Congestion persists on Riga's Eastern Highway near Brīvības gatve
Despite two new overpasses built as part of Riga's Eastern Highway project, the section near Brīvības gatve continues to see heavy traffic jams. A preliminary study will determine how the bottleneck is eventually resolved.
Riga's Eastern Highway (Austrumu maģistrāle) has been partially operational for a few years, with construction so far delivering two new overpasses in the city — one at the Ieriķu and Dzelzavas street junction, and another over Madonas Street. Despite these additions, a persistent bottleneck remains at the section near Brīvības gatve, where drivers regularly face long queues and delays.
Study underway before a decision
To address the problem, reconstruction works are planned for this stretch. A preliminary study is currently underway to assess possible technical solutions, and that phase of work is expected to wrap up by the middle of next year.
Once the preliminary study is complete, the municipality will need to decide on the specific solution to implement at the site. Options under consideration include building a new overpass, constructing a bridge, or implementing a more complex single-level traffic arrangement.
Until a final decision is made and actual construction begins, drivers who regularly use this section of the Eastern Highway will continue to face congestion and delays, particularly during peak traffic hours.
