With the arrival of spring, reconstruction works on bridges and viaducts have also resumed, and this season there is an large number of such projects across the country. Since mid-March, bridge reconstruction works have been in full swing throughout Lithuania.

Mid-March marks the start of the bridge reconstruction season in Lithuania, with projects taking place across the country – from motorways to smaller regional roads.

Vilnius residents will soon see a wooden pedestrian and cycling bridge take shape

Among the larger ongoing projects, reconstruction of the bridge over the Krunė River near Kaunas continues, preparatory works for the Gariūnai viaduct reconstruction have already begun in Vilnius, and soon the structure of a new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Neris will start to emerge.

According to Tadas Daškevičius, Technical Director of the bridge and viaduct construction company Tilsta, which is part of Fegda grupė, demolition of the outdated Gariūnai viaduct is planned for the end of March. The old structure will be completely dismantled and replaced with a new one by summer 2027.

Another viaduct will soon be demolished on the Vilnius – Panevėžys motorway near Taujėnai. The outdated structure will be replaced with a new one adapted to current needs.

As reconstruction of the bridge over the Krunė on the A1 motorway continues, another key stage is nearing completion—the demolition of the second part of the old bridge. “Traffic management on this busy motorway has been successfully handled using a unique solution for Lithuania—redirecting traffic via temporary bridges, so drivers crossing the Krunė River have not experienced major disruptions,” explains Daškevičius.

Already this summer, residents and visitors of Vilnius walking or cycling along the Neris riverbank will be able to see the impressive structure of a new pedestrian and cycling bridge rising. It will be the first modern wooden bridge of its kind in Vilnius, connecting A. Goštauto and Upės streets.

According to Daškevičius, the bridge abutments and intermediate supports have already been installed, although works are currently temporarily paused due to the rising water level of the Neris. Construction will resume once water levels drop.

“We do not yet have a bridge in Vilnius with such a large wooden arch. The main structure is expected to be assembled within about three months, and the first visible outlines of the bridge will appear already this summer,” he says.

More than 0.5 km viaduct in the “Rail Baltica” project

Another large-scale infrastructure project is starting in Jonava district – the construction of a railway viaduct as part of the Rail Baltica project. The viaduct will be approximately 580 meters long, crossing the valleys of the Šešuva and Vėsa rivers, and will consist of 18 spans.

More than 20,000 cubic meters of concrete and over 2,600 tons of reinforcing steel will be used for the structure. Due to the complex terrain, some supports will exceed 20 meters in height, making it one of the most technically challenging sections of the entire Rail Baltica project.

The project will also include a so-called green crossing—a special structure designed to allow wildlife to safely cross the railway infrastructure.

Sometimes major repair is enough

In some cases, building a new bridge is not necessary—major repair of an existing structure is sufficient. One such example is the Juozapavičius Bridge over the Nemunas in Alytus, where the main renovation works have already been completed, with only final finishing touches remaining.

According to Donatas Poteliūnas, Head of Marketing at the road and bridge construction company Alkesta, this bridge is one of the most important transport infrastructure objects in Alytus. The renovation began in June 2025, during which bearings were replaced and the metal structure, supports and deck were repaired.

During the works, the bridge was closed for more than two months, causing inconvenience for residents – some trips that normally took one kilometer increased to up to ten kilometers. However, the works were completed on time, and residents can now once again use the renewed bridge.

Reconstruction wave reaches regions as well

The wave of bridge renewal is also felt in the regions, where reconstruction works on bridges and smaller structures are being launched one after another.

For example, reconstruction of the bridge over the Ūla River – well known among kayaking enthusiasts – on the Videniai – Dubičiai road is expected to begin soon. Built in 1967, the bridge is now in need of major repair. After reconstruction, it will remain a three-span structure, with a total length of 29.2 meters, a carriageway width of 7 meters, and a 2-meter-wide pedestrian path.

According to Poteliūnas, the bridge, located near the Belarus border, is a popular starting point for kayaking trips along the Ūla River.

In Lazdijai – two bridge projects and demolition of the Merkinė viaduct

In some cases, bridges are replaced entirely with culverts. According to Poteliūnas, such solutions allow for simpler and more cost-effective infrastructure maintenance in regional areas.

One example is the bridge over the Jaugila River on the Dotnuva – Valučiai regional road, which will be demolished and replaced with a culvert.

“For a small river, installing a large-diameter pipe – a culvert – is sufficient. It is cheaper and easier to maintain than a bridge,” he explains.

In Lazdijai, reconstruction of a bridge at an important transport link has already begun. The existing structure will be replaced with an arch-type culvert designed to handle greater traffic loads.

In addition, reconstruction is planned for the viaduct on national road No. 133 near Merkinė. Currently in critical condition and restricted to light vehicles, it will be demolished and replaced with a slightly higher structure, allowing taller agricultural machinery to pass underneath more easily. Works are scheduled to begin in August.

Currently, Alkesta is also renovating bridges over the Šačia and Širvinta rivers and has signed a contract for the reconstruction of the bridge over the Šlavanta River.