Expert: the left turn to Medemciems can only remain as a temporary solution

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He explained that the so-called Medemciems intersection is one of several problematic intersections in Latvia, where a relatively light traffic road from a village connects to a much larger traffic flow at a signposted intersection.

Irbītis emphasized that the main danger at such intersections is left turns. This situation becomes particularly dangerous when the main road has more than two lanes in one direction. “In fact, in this situation, the driver has to give way to four lanes when turning left. It is extremely difficult to make sure of safety during a maneuver in such a situation, practically impossible in intensive traffic conditions,” said Irbītis.

Irbītis also drew attention to the fact that there is no detailed research of road traffic accidents and compilation of research results in Latvia. “The results of police investigations and forensic expert examinations disappear from the statistical view and are not summarized. According to the statements of the responsible persons, no detailed information on traffic accidents at this intersection was available during the traffic change planning, but only general information,” said Irbītis.

The traffic safety expert also pointed out that according to the information gathered by Medemciems activists about the causes of traffic accidents, there has been a left turn at this place, during which four lanes of the road must be given the road. According to him, the left turn from Riga to Medemciems was not the cause of the traffic accidents, although it is not safe.

Irbītis emphasized that the left turn from Riga to Medemciems should be considered only as a temporary solution at least at certain hours of the day.

“If we look at the proposed alternative for the left turn from Riga to Medemciems – a trip to the Riga bypass, it must be concluded that there is the next dangerous traffic situation with a very unsuccessful solution of the run-in and braking lane. “This solution is provocative of a dangerous situation and absolutely unacceptable from the point of view of traffic safety,” he said, “in the direction of Babīte, without a runway.”

Irbītis drew attention to the fact that when diverting the traffic flow to the Riga bypass, the horizontal marking of the multi-level intersection of the Riga bypass must also be arranged in order to stop the creation of dangerous situations. The most technically safe solution, in his opinion, is the solution promised at the government level at the Medemciems intersection – a multi-level intersection, in this case – a tunnel, but its implementation requires time and money.

It has already been reported that Māris Zaļaiskalns, Director of the Traffic Organization Department of SJSC Latvijas Valsts ceļi, informed that an agreement has already been concluded on the reconstruction of the Medemciems intersection.

To get from Medemciems to Jelgava, you will have to turn right in the direction of Riga and after 800 meters on the highway there will be a turning point for driving in the opposite direction.

In turn, to get from Medemciems to Riga, you will have to pass the existing intersection less than four kilometers in the direction of Jelgava to a two-level intersection with the Riga bypass. At this intersection you will have to turn in the opposite direction and measure the road to Medemciems.

The villagers started collecting signatures against LVC’s plans. In its turn, Olaine County Council believes that the best solution would be a two-level traffic junction, the design and construction of which the site is ready to support both organisationally and financially. As a two-level traffic junction cannot be designed and built in one year, a temporary solution is needed to ensure safe and economically justified access from Riga to Medemciems and Baloži, and this can be achieved by building a second turn in the direction of Jelgava, the municipality believes.

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