“The Via Baltica E-road has some of the heaviest transit traffic in Lithuania, and is used to carry the most goods. Our goal is to make sure that it is convenient and safe for all travellers, and that it meets the most stringent traffic organisation and safety requirements for international road networks. Once reconstruction of the entire 40-kilometre stretch is complete, it will be possible to drive comfortably, safely and quickly on this highway from Kaunas through Marijampolė to the Polish border, and then all the way to Warsaw,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.
“Connecting the Baltic States with Poland and other European countries, Via Baltica is one of our most important roads. This road is a strategically important connection for Lithuanian and international transport, so its modernisation is one of the country’s priority transport infrastructure projects. At the moment, most of the section of Via Baltica from Marijampolė to the Polish border only has two lanes, so when the traffic is heavier, especially regarding trucks, the road conditions are difficult. After the reconstruction works are complete, this road will become not only more modern, but safer as well,” says Remigijus Lipkevičius, director of the Lithuanian Road Administration.
This 40 km stretch of Via Baltica has some of the heaviest traffic in Lithuania, with annual average daily traffic at almost 10,000 vehicles per day, of which a whopping 60 per cent are freight transport.
A contract has already been signed for work on the next section of Via Baltica, from kilometre 79 km to kilometre 85. Following completion of the design stage, public procurement procedures for the section from kilometre 56.83 km to kilometre 72.50 are also planned to be started this year. Public procurement procedures for contract works on the fourth section of the highway – from kilometre 85 km to kilometre 97.06 – are planned to begin either at the end of this year or during the first half of 2023.
Contract works on the entire approximately 40-kilometre section of Via Baltica (from kilometre 56.83 to kilometre 97.06) are expected to be completed in December 2024, two years ahead of schedule.
Once reconstruction of the section of Via Baltica from Marijampolė to the Polish border is finished, it will meet international infrastructure safety and traffic management standards.
