Rail Baltica viaduct construction underway at RIX Riga Airport

As the construction of the Rail Baltica station and related infrastructure at Riga Airport continues, work is underway on the viaducts in both directions from the future passenger terminal building. To ensure smooth traffic flow and passenger movement, the Rail Baltica railway line at the airport will be elevated on a viaduct.

Next milestone has been reached in the development of the Rail Baltica station building across from the airport terminal – the contractor, B.S.L. Infra, has completed the construction of the reinforced concrete frame, which now stands three stories high. In the future, the station will be connected to the airport by a pedestrian bridge, while the railway line in the direction of Riga and Jaunmārupe will be placed on viaducts. The total length of the viaduct towards Jaunmārupe will be just under 800 meters, while towards Riga, it will stretch for more than one kilometer.

"The construction work and the contract are divided into several phases, progressing according to the available funding. The active construction zone near the airport is now shifting from the station to the viaducts. This is the second largest phase of the Rail Baltica infrastructure project, covering more than 4.5 kilometers of high-speed railway line," explains Ēriks Diļevs, Chairman of the Board of Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas.

In the direction of Jaunmārupe, B.S.L. Infra has already installed 96 foundation piles, and the demolition of the former office building at Piestātnes Street 6 has begun. Within the restricted area of Riga Airport, the reconstruction of existing utility networks, as well as the airport's fuel station and boiler house, is gradually progressing to make space for the future railway viaduct. Near Dzirnieku Street, the concrete grid structures for the railway track viaduct are already being successfully constructed.

Meanwhile, in the direction of Riga, as space is gradually being cleared in the airport’s parking area, work has begun on the reconstruction of utility networks and the installation of piles for the railway viaduct. In long-term parking, test piling is currently underway to verify the selected technology, load-bearing capacity, and the necessary depth to reach the load-bearing dolomite layer.

To minimize noise and vibrations in the surrounding area, the piling process is using drilling and concreting technology, known in the industry as the Kelly technique, rather than traditional pile driving.

With the completion of concrete work, the Rail Baltica station has now risen to a height of 20 meters (the total height, including the steel roof structure, will reach about 25 meters). The construction of the railway station and the structurally independent viaduct section required an impressive volume of concrete—approximately 23,000 m³. The viaduct is designed to withstand high dynamic loads, such as when trains brake and accelerate at speeds that can reach up to 120 km/h in the station vicinity.

The construction of the Rail Baltica station and associated infrastructure near Riga International Airport is being carried out by the international consortium B.S.L. Infra, which includes Austria's Swietelsky AG and the Latvian construction companies SIA Binders and AS LNK Industries.

As part of the Rail Baltica project, 4.5 kilometers of high-speed railway line will be built, including both a viaduct and an embankment, as well as a multi-level high-speed railway station with multifunctional infrastructure designed for passenger convenience.

About Rail Baltica 

Rail Baltica is one of Europe's largest high-speed infrastructure projects, aiming to establish a modern and sustainable rail link that connects the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with the European rail network. It is also a part of the trans-European transport corridor.

Rail Baltica will be a fully electrified, double-track railway with a standard gauge of 1435 mm and will be equipped with ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) and designed to meet European standards. With a design speed of 249 km/h, Rail Baltica will significantly reduce travel times between the Baltic States and major European cities. It will serve as a modern infrastructure for passenger, freight, and military mobility, promoting accessibility and facilitating business, tourism, and cultural exchange. Additionally, the project will enhance the Baltic region's position as a vital transit hub, fostering stronger trade connections and promoting regional cooperation.

About RB Rail AS 

RB Rail AS is a multinational joint venture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania established to lead and coordinate the implementation of the Rail Baltica Global Project, the first infrastructure development project of this scale in the Baltic region. More about Rail Baltica global project: www.railbaltica.org