Even though it is snowing and raining again, spring work is going on in the streets of Cēsi.
“Most of the streets have already been cleaned. The sand scattered in the winter, the accumulated debris are collected. Street managers use machinery, employees also work with their hands. In many places, you can only sweep with a broom,” says Egils Kurpnieks, Deputy Head of the Department of Territory and Infrastructure Management of Cēsu City and Vaives Parish for communal issues, and reminds that the performance of these works is highly dependent on the weather. When it is very dry, when cleaning the sand collected from the streets in the winter, too much dust rises up, when it is even a little frozen, the material to be sprinkled cannot be collected either, so you have to maneuver according to the weather. It is planned that every street will be cleaned at least once by May.
As soon as the snow melts, large and small potholes appear on the streets, dangerous and not so dangerous for motorists.
“In the spring, the number of potholes in the city streets does not decrease, even though new streets are always being repaired. The traffic is heavy and the condition of the roadways is poor, the surface is crumbling. The biggest potholes have been repaired, the asphalt cracks can be filled a little later, because a higher air temperature is needed,” explains E. Kurpnieks and adds that the streets that will be renovated this summer must also be repaired, and drivers must be protected from dangerous situations. Of course, the main streets are the priority. Their edges are arranged, the growth is removed. In the Old Town, on Rīgas Street, the pavement has been improved and sand has been poured.
“You have to take into account the allocated funding, but also every small work is essential in the maintenance of roads and streets. Although tree branches are cut on the roadsides in Vaive parish, they will not break under the weight of snow in winter, they will not disturb cleaners and drivers,” says the deputy head of the municipal department for communal issues and adds that this spring, the covers of various communication wells are causing problems in more than one place. They have been dislodged by frost and changing weather. However, not all wells are municipal.
The technological break for street reconstruction is over. Not only the people of Česi are waiting to be able to drive along Bērzaines Street and cross the intersection of Piebalgas and Lapsu Streets without worries or detours. “The builders are actively working and are interested in completing the work as soon as possible. Due to various circumstances, the reconstruction was not completed last year as planned. The intersection of Piebalgas and Lapsu Streets will be completed in the next few days, but the works on Piebalgas Street will take place until June. The construction works around the intersection of Bērzaines and Palasta streets will end soon, but on Bērzaines street from the intersection with Satekles street to Bērzaines elementary school, the works are more extensive. Pedestrian sidewalks are being built, and the street has acquired a scenic outline. The work was delayed because the designer had to find a solution to maintain the optimal slope of the sidewalk on the side of the grove. The initial solution was too steep,” says E. Kurpnieks and emphasizes that it will be possible to walk along the sidewalk along Bērzaines Street to Palasta Street. On the other hand, the works on both sections of Birzes Street will be completed by June. Emīla Dārziņa street surface reconstruction is planned to be completed by mid-October.
With the dry weather, residents often call and ask when the gravel streets will be treated with an anti-dust agent, says E. Kurpnieks. To do this, you have to wait for more stable weather, then the effect of the product will be longer. Several gravel streets will be resurfaced.
“Although the management is difficult, it is definitely better than the gravel surface,” says the representative of the municipality and reveals that the gravel street surface will be treated with an anti-dust agent at least once before the construction works begin. In May, it is planned to carry out procurement for two-layer surface treatment of streets and roads with a gravel surface: Dārza, Egļu, Prieda, Jurģi, Baiba, Jauna, Dīķa, Bebru, Putnu, Maņu, Zaļā, Ielejas, Kalna (in the section from Miera to Palejas iela), Palejas, Mednieku (in the section from Palejas to Līgatnes iela), A. Pumpuras, Zviņuų, Ausekļas (in the section from R. Blaumaņi to E. Veidenbaums iela), ETZvārguļas, E. Weidenbaums (in the section from Vaives to Poruk iela), Priekuļu, Medņu iela. On the other hand, in Vaive parish, from Veismanii to Krivu village.
As for the nearest plans, E. Kurpnieks emphasizes that their implementation depends on the availability of loans. Pļavas and Eduards Veidenbaums, as well as Puķu and Zaķu streets, have been designed and the financing options are being assessed. Reconstruction of Palasta and Kungu streets is being designed.
“Every year, a certain Cēsu street is renovated, which will be done for many years to come,” said E. Kurpnieks.
