A1 Highway Alert: Major Repairs Between Vilnius and Kaunas Start This Weekend
Lithuania’s most critical transport artery, the A1 highway connecting Vilnius, Kaunas, and the port city of Klaipėda, is set for significant disruption starting this weekend. The state-owned road infrastructure company, “Via Lietuva,” has announced that a major renovation project will commence on a 5-kilometre stretch near Kaunas, bringing traffic restrictions that are expected to last until the autumn.
Preliminary traffic changes will be implemented this Saturday, with heavy machinery and primary construction work scheduled to begin on Monday. The project focuses on the section between kilometre markers 89.42 and 94.34, specifically on the right-hand side of the carriageway for those travelling from the capital toward Kaunas. This stretch, which runs from the Neveronys turn-off to the Biruliškės (Murava) junction, is one of the most heavily trafficked zones in the country.
Traffic Management and the “3+1” Scheme
To mitigate the impact on the thousands of commuters and freight haulers who rely on this route daily, authorities are implementing a “3+1” traffic organization scheme. Unlike traditional roadworks that often reduce motorways to a single lane, this arrangement aims to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction. However, drivers are warned that lanes will be narrowed and shifted, requiring heightened concentration.
Martynas Gedaminskas, CEO of “Via Lietuva,” emphasized the need for driver cooperation. “In the coming days, work will begin on a 5-kilometre stretch of the motorway. We urge drivers to remain attentive, follow the posted restrictions, and protect both themselves and the crews working on the road,” Gedaminskas stated. He noted that while the goal is to maintain flow, delays are inevitable during peak hours.
Strategic Infrastructure Overhaul
The current works are not merely a surface-level patch-up. The project involves milling the existing asphalt, strengthening the underlying road base, and installing entirely new layers of high-durability asphalt. This structural renewal is designed to improve the road’s longevity and load-bearing capacity, which has been compromised by years of heavy use and fluctuating Baltic weather conditions.
| Project Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Affected Stretch | A1 Highway (89.42 km to 94.34 km) |
| Direction | Vilnius towards Kaunas (Right side) |
| Start Date | Saturday (Restrictions) / Monday (Construction) |
| Estimated Completion | October 2024 |
| Contractor | AB Kauno tiltai |
| Key Features | Base reinforcement, new asphalt, drainage systems |
Beyond the road surface, the project includes the modernization of surface water drainage systems—including culverts, gutters, and wells—and the installation of updated safety barriers and road markings. Simultaneously, repairs will be carried out on the viaduct of regional road No. 1919 (Ramučiai–Martinava), which crosses over the A1. This will involve repairing concrete structures, updating expansion joints, and improving drainage on the bridge itself.
A National Push for Better Roads
This project is part of a much larger national initiative. According to the Minister of Transport, Juras Taminskas, Lithuania is embarking on an intensive year of infrastructure repair to address a backlog caused by historical underfunding and recent harsh winters.
“This year, nearly 200 kilometres of intensive repair work await our motorways and main roads,” Minister Taminskas said. “On the main transport arteries alone—Vilnius–Klaipėda and Vilnius–Panevėžys—we plan to renovate more than 120 kilometres and 24 bridges and viaducts. Our goal is clear: after these works, Lithuanian roads must be safer and more comfortable to traverse.”
The broader 2024-2027 plan aims to address the worst-conditioned sections of the national network. By 2026, approximately 170 kilometres of high-priority sections are slated for completion, with 100 kilometres expected to be finished by the end of this year.
Navigating the Construction Zone
For international travellers and local commuters, the advice is to plan for significantly longer journey times between Vilnius and Kaunas. While the “3+1” scheme helps, the narrowing of lanes often leads to “rubbernecking” and slower average speeds.
Commuters are encouraged to use navigation apps to monitor real-time traffic density and to consider alternative routes through regional roads where possible. The works are scheduled to conclude in October, providing a window of improved driving conditions before the onset of the next winter season. “Via Lietuva” maintains over 21,000 km of national roads and 1,500 bridges, and this A1 project represents one of the most high-profile technical challenges in their current portfolio.
Source: ELTA
