Latvia Issues Widespread Travel Advisory as Snow and Ice Disrupt Roads
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Latvia is grappling with hazardous driving conditions across much of the country as snow and ice have made travel difficult on both main highways and regional roads. Authorities are actively working to clear affected areas, but motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution.
This morning, a significant weather event has created treacherous conditions for drivers throughout Latvia. According to operational information released by Latvijas Valsts ceļi (“Latvian State Roads”), snow and icing are widespread, impacting transportation networks. Road crews are currently engaged in clearing snow and applying anti-slip materials to improve safety. A total of 113 units of winter service equipment are deployed in road maintenance operations.
Major Highways Significantly Impacted
Several key highways are experiencing particularly difficult driving conditions. These include:
- Vidzeme highway (A2): Affected from Riga to the Rauna turn and from the Alūksne turn to Veclaicene.
- Valmiera highway (A3): Conditions are challenging between Murjānai and Strenči.
- Riga Ring Road (Salaspils-Babīte) (A5): The entire section of the ring road is impacted.
- Daugavpils highway (A6): Difficult conditions exist from the Aiviekstes bridge to Daugavpils.
- Bauska highway (A7): The entire length of the highway is affected.
- Jelgava highway (A8): Travel is difficult along the entire highway.
- Liepāja highway (A9): Sections from Riga to the Apšupe intersection and from Ciecere to Kalvene are particularly hazardous.
- Ventspils highway (A10): Conditions are challenging from Riga to Kūdra.
- Liepāja-Lithuanian border (Rucava) (A11): The entire highway is experiencing difficult conditions.
- Rēzekne highway (A12): The entire highway is affected.
- Russian border (Grebneva) – Rēzekne – Daugavpils – Lithuanian border (Medumi) (A13): Difficult conditions are reported from Grebneva to Rusenica and from Špogii to Modumi.
- Daugavpils bypass (A14): The entire bypass is impacted.
- Rēzekne bypass (A15): The entire bypass is experiencing difficult conditions.
Regional Roads Also Affected
Outside of the areas surrounding Riga, Gulbene, Limbaži, and Valka, driving conditions on regional roads throughout Latvia are reported as difficult. This widespread impact underscores the severity of the current weather situation.
Latvijas Valsts ceļi is urging drivers to prioritize safety. “Drivers are invited to take the weather into account when planning trips, to allow extra time for the road, to choose a driving speed that corresponds to the condition of the road surface, as well as a safe distance,” a company release stated.
Motorists can access up-to-date information on national road conditions via the Latvian State Roads website at www.lvceli.lv. Citizens are also encouraged to report difficult driving conditions or other traffic-related observations by calling the 24-hour free information phone at 80005555 or through the company’s social media accounts on X and Facebook.
The current situation highlights the challenges of winter travel in Latvia and the importance of preparedness and caution when navigating potentially hazardous road conditions.
