The Kekava bypass in Latvia is now under construction, as a PPP project. Photo: Latvian State Roads

This after the successful commencement of a PPP project for the 鈧�250 million Kekava bypass, which was largely made possible through investment from the European Investment Banks and the Nordic Investment Bank.

This week, Latvia鈥檚 minister of transport, J膩nis Vitenbergs, and minister of finance, Arvils A拧eradens, visited the site where construction is underway on the bypass, which is the country鈥檚 first PPP infrastructure project.

The move could signal a shift in priorities for the government, which has recently focused largely on developments on the Rail Baltica network.

Following the site visit, A拧eradens said the 亩ekava project was 鈥渁 good example鈥� as it demonstrated 鈥渁 transparent process, good management and high quality standards in order to provide residents with necessary infrastructure鈥�.

Door open to further projects

Vitenbergs said he believed PPP had 鈥減roven its worth鈥� on the project, which is being undertaken by the private company Kekava ABT JSC, who will also maintain the road for 20 years.

鈥淣ow,鈥� he said, 鈥渨e can consider the Bauska bypass for this model. People have been waiting for it for a very long time.鈥�

According to Latvian State Roads, the current Bauska (A7) motorway, connecting Riga and Kekava, carries volumes of freight traffic that are up to three times above the limit.

No date has been given as yet for a tendering process on the Bauska bypass.