On Tuesday, 12 November, the government approved the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations drafted by the Ministry of Transport to provide Cohesion Fund funding of €66.60 million to improve safety and environmental accessibility for road users, including vulnerable road users, by creating appropriate infrastructure on TEN-T roads.
"Almost four times more people still die on Latvian roads than in Sweden. Every life lost on the road is a tragedy - and often a preventable tragedy. Road safety is one of my priorities, which is why I am pleased that €66 million of European Union funds will be invested in safer road infrastructure. This funding will enable us to design and build or rebuild safe road infrastructure with two-level crossings, taking care of every road user," said Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens.
The technical condition of road infrastructure, its surface and its compliance with safety requirements directly or indirectly affect the risk of road traffic accidents. One of the most effective measures to improve road safety on high intensity roads, including the TEN-T network, is the conversion of single level junctions to dual carriageways, the construction of roundabouts and the conversion of single level vulnerable road crossings to dual carriageways. The TEN-T network solutions improve road safety, increase road capacity and overall traffic quality.
The developed Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers for the implementation of the Specific Objective 3.1.1 "Developing a sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent, safe and intermodal TEN-T infrastructure of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, measure 3.1.1.2 "Investments in road safety and environmental accessibility of the TEN-T network" will enable the attraction of the Cohesion Fund in the amount of €66.60 million for the implementation of the Specific Objective 3.1.1 "Developing a sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent, safe and intermodal TEN-T infrastructure". The total planned funding for the measure is €78.35 million, including €11.75 million from the national budget.
The rules stipulate that the beneficiary of the funding and the implementer of the measure is SLCC "Latvian State Roads", which has to improve the safety and environmental accessibility of road users, including vulnerable road users, at at least at 10 sites by the end of 2029. Currently, sites on the TEN-T road network have been identified where two-level pedestrian and cycle crossings are needed, as well as two-level crossings and rotary roundabouts at existing junctions; solutions for public transport stops and facilities need to be improved.
