The buried capsule heralds the beginning of the Lentvaris railway crossing reconstruction works

Today, October 6, a capsule was buried in Lentvary (Trakų district), announcing the symbolic start of construction works on the reconstruction of the Lentvary railway crossing and the tunnel for cars under the railways. This project improving traffic conditions and safety will significantly improve communication conditions in the city of Lentvaris, which is divided into two parts by the railway line and due to the intense train traffic at the crossing, traffic jams are constantly created.

"Today is the day that the residents of Lentvaris have been waiting for for decades, but the railroad crossing reconstruction project has been coordinated for a whole decade, technical solutions have been changed, and deadlines have been postponed several times. For a long time, nothing was done to reconstruct one of the most dangerous crossings in Lithuania, so that doctors and firefighters rushing to this place would not waste vital minutes by missing trains. For a long time, nothing was done to prevent Lentvaris residents from getting stuck in unnecessary traffic jams to get from one part of the city to another. It was necessary to put in a lot of effort, show initiative, coordinate and control actions, so that this unsafe, inconvenient crossing was finally restructured. I am happy that today I can symbolically start the construction works of the Lentvaris crossing and the underground tunnel for cars", said Minister of Transport Jaroslav Narkevič, who participated in the ceremony and greeted those gathered.

The works will be carried out in accordance with the s. m. September. the signed contract with the contractor for the reconstruction of the Lentvaris railway crossing and the tunnel of the regional road no. 4707 Grigiškės–Lentvaris–Dobrovolė 4,95 km of new construction. The value of the contract is 20,7 million. EUR with VAT. The works must be completed within 9 months from the entry into force of the contract. This term does not include the annual 3-month technological break.

According to Remigijaus Lipkevičius, the head of the Road Directorate of the Lithuanian Automobile Company, after the implementation of the project, communication will improve, safety will increase and the problem of a long queue of people waiting at the crossing will be solved. In addition, the quality of life will be affected by the fact that the city of Lentvaris, which was divided into two parts for many years, will have smoother communication due to the intensive train traffic.

The project will be implemented under the supervision of Lithuanian Road Directorate, Trakai District Municipality and AB "Lithuanian railways" partnership agreement signed in 2020 August 19 

"The priority of the entire LTG group is the safety of road users and employees. We are happy to contribute to the Lentvaris crossing modernization project, thanks to which thousands of people who cross this crossing by trains and cars every day will do so much safer. Without a doubt, it will also please the drivers who have repeatedly wasted time at the crossing, which was closed even at 11 a.m. due to the intensity of train traffic. per day. After the implementation of the project, such a problem will no longer exist, as the railway and car roads will no longer cross, drivers will be able to cross it safely at any time of the day without any delay," said Mantas Bartuška, CEO of Lietuvos Geležinkelių.

The project is financed by the Road Maintenance and Development Program and European Union investments.

At the event, Trakai district mayor Edita Rudelienė also welcomed the participants, representatives of the company performing the contract work, and the local community were also present.