At the end of July 2024, the contractor “Rizzani de Eccher” initiated a new phase in the construction of the Rail Baltica bridge over the Neris in Jonava district by delivering sheet pilings to the site. This marks the beginning of a crucial stage in the bridge’s development. A temporary perimeter will be established using protective sheet pilings, enabling safe installation of the bridge pile heads. It will be later removed and dismantled.
Spanning 1.51 kilometers, the bridge over the Neris is among the most complex infrastructure projects in Lithuania’s history and the longest bridge in the Rail Baltica project. To date, substantial preparatory work has been completed, with 262 of the planned 376 piles already installed, utilizing 7.6 thousand cubic meters of concrete.
“The structure is notably complex,” remarked Justas Vyžintas, LTG Infra Head for Rail Baltica Management. “The Spanish designer IDOM developed detailed solutions for the bridge columns, which required meticulous planning. The contractor had to evaluate and choose construction methods that strictly adhered to environmental regulations, minimizing impact on the Neris River. Rizzani de Eccher refined the plans for sheet pilling installations to ensure the foundation work could proceed safely and efficiently.”
The bridge’s complexity is highlighted by its length and its height of 40 meters, necessitating three construction technologies: moving scaffolding, the balance method, and formwork.
Lithuanian representative Vyžintas noted that effective communication between the Rail Baltica team, the designer, and the contractor led to viable technical solutions: “Although the process was challenging, the outcomes will expedite the project’s construction. We anticipate visible progress by September.”
Additionally, this year will see the reconstruction of the 110 kV Litgrid line, the dismantling of existing reinforced concrete supports, and the replacement of part of the power line with an underground 110 kV cable.
Currently, around 700 employees and 500 pieces of equipment are working on the active Rail Baltica sections Šveicarija-Žeimiai (10 km) and Žeimiai-Šėta (17.7 km). Two more contracts for the Kaunas–Šveicarija (36 km) and Šėta–Ramygala sections are expected to be signed this year, with intensive work commencing in 2025.