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Crossing the river

By Inese Timuka. 27.11.2008

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Dienvidu Tilts (The Southern Bridge), over the River Daugava, was officially opened to the public on the 17th of November, the day before the 90th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Latvia.

The sturdiness of the bridge was tested in mid-October: 32 trucks were placed on it with a total weight of 1,280 tons. At the moment the Southern Bridge is the largest construction project in Latvia. In terms of work volume it can only be compared to the Salu tilts (Island Bridge) that was built in the 1970s. The total length of the Southern Bridge is 3.502 kilometres, the bridge itself being 0.80 km. and the access roads 2.7 km. It is 34.28 metres wide, with three lanes on either side, plus cycling tracks and sidewalks. The construction of the bridge started back in 2004.

Joint-stock company Dienvidu tilts is a collaboration of six individual companies – BMGS, Latvijas tilti, Rigas tilti Ltd., Skonto buve Ltd., Tilts Ltd. and Viadukts Ltd.