The Minister of Transport visited Birštona: the updated infrastructure of the resort was evaluated, the newly opened pedestrian and bicycle overpass

On Thursday, the minister met with the Mayor of Birštonas Municipality and representatives of the Administration. During the visit, already implemented and currently underway street and road projects of the resort were presented. The minister assessed the work done by the Birštonas municipality in repairing the streets and roads of the whole municipality, inspected the renovated Jaunimos street, the cleaning works started on the Nemunas coast, the longest toboggan run in Lithuania, and the viaduct built over the A-16 Vilnius-Marijampolė highway, which connected the two parts of the city of Birštonas.

"We are happy about the visit of Minister M. Skuodis to Biršton, because every year the resort renews itself, becomes more beautiful, successfully and purposefully investing funds in infrastructure improvement. The well-being of the community and guests is a priority for us, the representatives of the resort municipality, so we continue to plan to improve the condition of the city's roads, to prioritize safe traffic, pedestrians, bicycles, and ecological transport," says Birštonas municipality mayor Nijolė Dirginčienė.

The Minister, together with the Deputy Ministers and Director of the Lithuanian Motor Roads Directorate (LAKD) Remigius Lipkevičius and representatives of Birštonas Municipality inspected the renovated Jaunimos Street. The central street of the city and its infrastructure became fully adapted for residents and tourists after the reconstruction. There are additional parking spaces, a new bicycle and pedestrian path, modern street and footpath lighting. The street is also adapted for people with disabilities, and the communication conditions of Birštonas residents have been improved.
Later, the minister continued his visit to the Nemunas coast, where the Inland Waterways Directorate of VĮ is currently carrying out cleaning works on the Nemunas section. After the silt accumulated at the Birštonas fixed pier is cleared, access to the pier will be opened for ships, navigation conditions on the inland waterway at Birštonos will improve, and conditions will be created to use the pier according to its purpose. It is predicted that the cleaning of the Nemunas will encourage local residents to engage in recreational boating and will directly contribute to the even greater attractiveness of the Birštonas resort and the number of tourists.
The minister did not miss the opportunity to see the newest tourist attraction in Biršton - the longest and most extreme summer toboggan runs in Lithuania have just been opened. Its length is 600 meters, and the biggest challenge for entertainers is to overcome the ring of turns, located at a height of 10 meters. Private investments in the project amounted to about 500 thousand euros.

The greatest attention during the visit to Birštonas was devoted to the completion of the overpass, which was built over the A-16 highway Vilnius-Marijampolė. During the visit, the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Lithuania Marius Skuodis, the Mayor of Birštonas Municipality Nijolė Dirginčienė, the director of LAKD Remigijus Lipkevičius and the member of the Seimas Andrius Palionis cut a symbolic ribbon marking the appearance of a new infrastructure facility connecting two parts of the city of Birštonas. After the construction work of the overpass has been completed by the Directorate of Lithuanian Motorways of VĮ, Birštonas municipality will install access to it: reconstruct the garden community street leading to the overpass, and connect the Bokštos alley path with existing and new pedestrian and bicycle paths. It will be safe and convenient for residents to travel from one side of the city to the other, without crossing the busy Vilnius-Marijampolė highway. The paths will also be adapted for people with disabilities by installing tactile surfaces and lighting on their surfaces.