Via Baltica sections linking Lithuania and Poland joined together
A ceremony on Monday, 20 October, officially marked the connection of the Via Baltica road between Lithuania and Poland. Traffic was restored in both directions between Marijampolė and the Lithuanian-Polish border along the 12-kilometer stretch from kilometre 85 to 97.06 on the A5 Kaunas–Marijampolė–Suwałki highway.
“Via Baltica is more than just a road. It is a connection between countries and people that strengthens our unity with our neighbours and the security of the entire region. This historic cooperation is reflected in the construction of the most modern connection between our countries, which will unite the Baltic States with other European Union countries and bring our nations closer together. We will complete work on the country’s most modern motorway by the end of this year and open it for comfortable and safe travel,” says Minister J. Taminskas.
Martynas Gedaminskas, the CEO of Via Lietuva, which oversees Lithuania’s roads, notes that the Via Baltica route is one of the largest and most technically complex road infrastructure projects in the history of independent Lithuania.
“For years it was dangerous to drive on the Via Baltica, the route saw many tragic accidents. Now travel on this road has become much safer, and the opening of two lanes of traffic in each direction has allowed us to raise the speed limit to 130 km/hour,” Gedaminskas said at the opening ceremony.
“The modernization of the Via Baltica is fundamentally altering the quality of transportation, ensuring safer, more convenient and faster travel both for people in Lithuania and for international traffic. Now we’re turning our attention towards Latvia as we set out to reconstruct the remaining sections of the Via Baltica,” the head of Via Lietuva added.
For the Lithuanian-Polish border stretch, three overpasses were constructed along with 11 roundabouts, two tunnel underpasses and a modern rest area with electric vehicle charging stations, sanitary facilities, and relaxation zones. This part of the border is important not only in terms of security, but also for strategic mobility – the modernized road will now ensure smoother traffic between Lithuania and Poland, improve transport links for local residents, and facilitate logistics flows throughout the region.
“Carrying out this strategically important project has been one of the most significant and complex road construction works in the country. We kept to a tight schedule, ensuring the quality of work and traffic safety at every stage – from embankments to complex engineering solutions. This stretch not only connects the roads of two countries but also enhances the mobility of the entire region. In fact, we will continue working here, to finish installing connecting roads, a rest and parking area, protective fences against wild animals, and some other things,” said Aldas Rusevičius, the CEO of Kauno Tiltai.
The value of the works on this last section of the road amount to EUR 187 million including VAT. The works were carried out by Kauno Tiltai AB, the winner of the corresponding public tender. The project was financed with moneys from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the budget of the Republic of Lithuania, and European Union structural funds.
Modernization of the entire 40 km stretch of the Via Baltica from Marijampolė to the border was a road infrastructure upgrade project of exceptional scope, including the construction of six new bridges and the reconstruction of two others, the building of nine overpasses, seven tunnel underpasses and 25 roundabouts, the laying of 90.5 km of connecting roads, and the installation of 18.9 km of noise barriers and the two most modern rest areas in Lithuania. Along with measures to ensure safety and convenience, ecological solutions were integrated into the works: Lithuania’s first two green bridges and special passages for animals make it possible to harmonize the development of infrastructure with protection of the environment.
The Via Baltica is one of Europe’s main North-South transport arteries, connecting Warsaw and Tallinn (European route E67, with a total distance of 970 km, including 269 km running through Lithuania). It is a critical link for both economic and human mobility, as well as for military mobility to ensure the security of Lithuania and its allies.
About AB Via Lietuva
Via Lietuva is responsible for maintaining and continually modernizing Lithuania’s network of over 21,000 km of roads of national importance as well as more than 1,500 bridges, overpasses and tunnels, and more than 2,000 km of pedestrian and bicycle paths. The company’s purpose is to ensure that mobility in Lithuania is safe, convenient and sustainable, and that the country’s road infrastructure meets modern needs for mobility and logistics.
