Commuters and international hauliers using Lithuania’s primary transport artery, the A1 motorway, face significant travel changes starting this weekend. The state-owned road infrastructure company, Via Lietuva, has announced a major renovation project on the stretch connecting Vilnius and Kaunas, with restrictions set to remain in place until the autumn.
Beginning Saturday, traffic restrictions will be implemented on the A1 Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda motorway between the 89.42 km and 94.34 km marks (on the right-hand side heading towards Kaunas). While initial setup begins over the weekend, the main construction phase is scheduled to commence on Monday. Officials expect the works to be completed by October, marking a significant period of disruption on the nation’s busiest transit route.
Traffic Management and the 3+1 Scheme
To mitigate the impact on the thousands of vehicles that traverse this route daily, Via Lietuva is implementing a “3+1” traffic organization scheme. Under this arrangement, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction. However, this requires drivers to be exceptionally vigilant regarding lane selection.
Those intending to exit the motorway into specific local territories must ensure they are in the correct lane well in advance, as the temporary barriers and lane shifts may limit the ability to change positions closer to junctions. The affected section begins near the turn-off for Neveronys and concludes at Biruliškės, commonly known as the Murava junction.
| Project Phase | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Initial Restrictions | Commencing Saturday |
| Main Works Start | Monday morning |
| Estimated Completion | October |
| Affected Stretch | 5km (Neveronys to Murava junction) |
| Traffic Flow | 3+1 Scheme (2 lanes per direction) |
Martynas Gedaminskas, CEO of Via Lietuva, emphasized the need for patience during this period. “In the near future, road renovation works starting across the country will affect several important sections of the motorway,” Gedaminskas stated. He urged drivers to follow the new signage strictly to protect both themselves and the road crews working in high-traffic conditions.
Technical Scope of the Renovation
This project is not merely a surface-level repair. The intensive works involve milling the existing asphalt and installing entirely new layers of road surface. Crucially, the project includes strengthening the road base and updating the entire pavement structure to improve longevity and performance under heavy load.
Beyond the driving surface, the renovation includes:
* Installation and repair of road shoulders.
* Updating surface water drainage systems, including culverts, gutters, and wells.
* Renewal of road safety barriers and horizontal marking.
* Repair of the viaduct on regional road No. 1919 (Ramučiai–Martinava) which crosses over the A1. This involves fixing concrete structures, updating expansion joints, and improving drainage systems.
The contract for these works has been awarded to AB Kauno tiltai, a major infrastructure player in the Baltic region.
A National Strategy for Infrastructure Recovery
The A1 works are part of a broader, more aggressive strategy to address Lithuania’s deteriorating road network. Minister of Transport Juras Taminskas noted that nearly 200 kilometres of intensive repairs are planned for the country’s motorways and main roads this year alone.
“Our goal is clear—that after these works, Lithuanian roads can be driven more safely and comfortably,” Taminskas said. He attributed the current state of the roads to a combination of long-term underfunding and particularly harsh winter conditions, which have accelerated the formation of potholes and structural cracks.
On the primary arteries of Vilnius–Klaipėda (A1) and Vilnius–Panevėžys (A2), the government plans to repair more than 120 kilometres of road and 24 bridges and viaducts. Looking further ahead, Via Lietuva aims to repair approximately 170 km of the worst-conditioned road sections by 2026, with 100 km of that target set to be completed within the current calendar year. For international travellers and logistics companies, these works represent a necessary trade-off: short-term delays in exchange for a modernized, reliable transit corridor through the Baltics.
Source: ELTA
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