The construction of the Rail Baltica high-speed railway mainline in the Jonava district, Lithuania is progressing, with 13.7 km of local access vehicle roads with a drainage system recently completed. Last year, an additional 18.3 km of access roads were finished, creating a seamless network on both sides of the under-construction embankment.
The construction of 13.7 km of roads, drainage networks, and culverts on the Žeimiai-Šėta section commenced in April 2023. The project, valued at EUR 7.7 million (excl. VAT), was executed by the Latvian company AS A.C.B., which was selected through a public procurement procedure.
“Throughout the construction, we actively engaged with the local community by relocating some entrance roads to locations convenient for farmers, thereby addressing their needs. We also coordinated the construction works to ensure that residents had access to their properties. New drainage systems, which are crucial for the quality of new railway infrastructure and structures, have been built, and the piping system has been upgraded to modern standards. The reconstructed network will not only ensure efficient removal of allowing accumulated water from cultivated fields, but the long-term durability of the newly constructed infrastructure as well,” stated Vytis Žalimas, CEO of LTG Infra.
The construction sites spanned a considerable distance of 17.7 km apart. To monitor progress, advanced techniques such as 3D modeling, drone scanning of ground surfaces, and weekly drone footage were employed. The highest level of BIM (Building Information Modeling) Level of Development 500 and strict environmental requirements were followed during construction.
“We are proud to be the first Latvian company to successfully complete a Rail Baltica construction project in the Baltic States. Over 100 workers and 60 units of machinery were involved during the most active times in construction of 13 roads. About 100,000 m³ of soil were excavated and 85,000 m³ of embankment were built. Extensive drainage works were carried out with over than 27 km of melioration pipes installed across the area exceeding 5 million m². Our previous experience in large-scale projects, such as the reconstruction of Vilnius and Palanga Airports infrastructure, has prepared us well for challenging projects as the one just built. We are proud to have contributed to this significant project, providing our expertise in delivering complex infrastructure solutions. Our sincere gratitude goes to all our partners for their cooperation and support in successfully delivering this project to our client LTG Infra,” highlighted Anna Priščepa, Board Member of AS A.C.B.
The local roads will be temporarily maintained by the railway infrastructure manager, LTG Infra, before being transferred to the Jonava District Municipality. The primary purpose of access roads is to ensure access to the new railway infrastructure for the maintenance purposes, as well as to ensure efficient transport links for the local population.