Unexpected news about the Kaunas bridge: the demolition plan is changing

From Thursday 11 p.m. until Friday 5 a.m. in the morning, traffic on the A1 highway had to be closed due to bridge demolition works. However, due to a change in circumstances, it was decided not to start the demolition of the bridge and not to close the highway.

According to a TV3 journalist who worked on the spot, the highway was not closed at night, and it was decided not to start the demolition of the bridge.

A little later, this was also confirmed by “Kaunas tiltai”.

“A. Demolition of the Mešniki Middle Bridge, which was supposed to start yesterday evening, has not yet started. In order to undertake demolition work on the detached part of the bridge, we must properly ensure all the requirements provided for in the permit we received yesterday from the responsible authorities to carry out those works. Therefore, we made the decision not to start the demolition works after assessing that we did not have time to properly prepare the embankment, which should ensure the safety of the equipment used for the task.

Preparations will continue last night and into the evening today, and we expect to begin demolition of the structure tonight. At night, until the demolition works are carried out, from 11 p.m. until 5 o’clock morning, the A1 section at the bridge will be closed in both directions. At that time, highway traffic at the bridge will be diverted through the city via a detour. We expect the demolition of the structure, which requires temporary traffic restrictions, to be completed within the next three nights,” the comment states.

Planned to close the road

We remind you that during the night due to the removal of the consequences of the A. Meškinis bridge over the Neris (middle bridge) incident, it was planned to close the traffic on the A1 Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda section of the main road on the bridges over the Neris from km 99.03 to 100.47. It is planned that traffic will also be closed on February 25 and February 26. at night, until the consequences of the incident are eliminated, the Directorate of Motor Roads of Lithuania reported.

The effects were planned to be removed within a few nights. This time was chosen based on the lowest traffic flows.

During the day, the traffic on the two nearby bridges (the southern and newly built section of the A1 Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda highway from km 99.03 to 100.47) will be operated.

AB Lithuanian Motorway Directorate (hereinafter – Road Directorate) received permission from the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate under the Ministry of Environment to allow the contractor to continue dismantling the bridge.

Traffic will be detoured during the cleanup.

For those traveling in the Vilnius–Klaipėda direction, traffic is directed through Jonavas St., Salako St., Nuokalnės St., Varnių St., Neries Krant., Baltų Ave., Rasytės St. and Jotvingių st. (leaving the option to choose the Žemaičiai highway);

For those traveling in the Klaipėda-Vilnius direction, traffic is directed through Panerių St., Varnių St., Nuokalnės St., Eigulių St. and Jonava st.

The Directorate of Roads has instructed the contractor to monitor the situation and, if there are the slightest suspicions regarding ensuring traffic safety, to promptly inform the Directorate of Roads and take steps to limit traffic. The contractor is responsible for the organization of work, elimination of consequences, and traffic safety in the constructed object.

The Road Directorate thanks road users for their patience and understanding and apologizes for the temporary inconvenience.

February 14 during the dismantling of the A. Meškini bridge over the Neri River in the section of the A1 Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda highway from km 99.03 to 100.47, the bridge structure collapsed. Traffic due to the incident on Panerių g. closed.

The reconstruction works of Meškini bridge over Neri (middle bridge) near Kaunas started last year. According to the contract, the works were to be completed by 2024. the end The value of the works of this contract is 68.37 million. EUR with VAT.

It is estimated that on this section of the road, which includes the mentioned bridge, from the Biruliškių intersection to Via Baltica, the traffic of cars reaches up to 78,000 on some days. cars.