“Kelprojektas” will design Šiauliai bypass

2014-06-04

“Kelprojektas” will design a nearly 7-km long Northeast-bound bypass. Currently the biggest Lithuanian transport infrastructure designing company signed a LTL 3.7 million-worth contract for designing the bypass with the Lithuanian Road Administration. The design documentation is planned to be prepared by the beginning of 2017, and construction of the road is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

“Northern and Western bypasses are functioning in Šiauliai; however those who go to Palanga from Panevėžys side have to drive along the main city streets. Therefore, a traffic flow in Vilnius, Vytautas and other streets increases. After the Northeast-bound Northern bypass is constructed, drivers will not have to go to the city, what will result in the reduction of noise, air pollution and improved communication”, told Mr. Justinas Sartauskas, Mayor of Šiauliai.

The Northeast-bound bypass will connect A12 (Riga – Kaliningrad) trunk road of state significance with road No.150 (Šiauliai-Pakruojis-Pasvalys) of regional significance and A9 trunk road (Panevėžys – Šiauliai) of state significance. The beginning of the new bypass – the end of Šiauliai Northern bypass at Šiauliai –Riga road near Sutkūnai. This bypass will merge into Bertužiai intersection in the road Panevėžys –Šiauliai.

“A flow of transit vehicles in major cities causes a lot of inconveniences to residents – has a negative effect on local communication, increases noise and pollution. Residents especially suffer from the heavyweight transit transport. By diverting the transport around, it is important to foresee its impact on smaller settlements and nature. Only after we make a thorough investigation of the situation we will be able to put forward optimal solutions”, told Algimantas Medžiaušis, CEO of Kelprojektas UAB.

The bypass will resolve communication problems for those who drive from Panevėžys to Riga on A12 road. Currently, in order to turn into the road Riga-Kaliningrad, it is necessary to turn to road 213 Aleksandrija-Ginkūnai from Tilžė Street in Šiauliai. This is one of the most intensive regional roads in Lithuania. Based on data of the Lithuanian Road Administration, last year it was crossed by 2,794 light-duty and 194 heavy-duty vehicles per 24 hours.

The road from Aleksandrija to Ginkūnai is curvy, therefore very dangerous. Here, vehicle speed is limited to 70 km/h, and truck speed to 50 km/h. A couple of years ago a tractor with a trailer rolled off this road and landed upside down. Local technical aid services go to pull out drivers from fields who have failed to overcome this winding road several times a month. One more “hot point” – Tilžė Street at Ginkūnai cemetery. In May 2012, one person died in an accident, and vehicle collisions are frequent.

After traffic is diverted from the densely populated Ginkūnai, traffic intensity will decrease in the road across the settlement, also, collisions with pedestrians, cyclists and animals will be avoided. After the road is widened up to four lanes, overtaking vehicles will not have to drive into the opposite lane of traffic, thus will not collide head-on. The possibility to turn to the left will be eliminated by installing different level intersections, or diverting traffic to a roundabout.

According to Mr. Ramūnas Vaičekauskas, Head of Kelprojektas’ Šiauliai unit, designers of the bypass will have to make not only geological, but also other studies, to determine economic efficiency of the road being constructed, as well as to suggest means to ensure maximum traffic safety in this road section.