Construction Of Express Roads In Latvian State Main Road Network
Abstract Latvian State Road Development Strategy for 2020 – 2040 was approved in the year 2020. It is a vision that includes long-term perspectives, strategic goals, tasks and priorities for road network development, and it is created for more efficient planning of state road network development, as well as, attracting additional funding for state owned roads. The aim of the Strategy 2040 is to create an efficient road network ensuring that the bypass of the Riga City is accessible within two hours from every national and regional development centre in Latvia. Development centres would be accessible within 45 minutes from every Latvian urban settlement along state regional and local roads. The strategic task is to create sections of express roads in the total length of 1000 kilometres thus improving traffic safety and reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. When creating the Strategy 2040 both the changes in traffic and road use and the changes in the location of population were studied. The Strategy foresees that high-speed express road sections would connect the Riga City with the biggest cities. The proposed plan of road network development is created with the aim to cover as large a population as possible. Special attention is paid to the Riga City, as it serves as the central hub for Latvian and Baltic transportation. After the implementation of the Strategy 2040, the Riga City would be reached within 30 minutes from the nearest development centres.