A1 (Latvia)

The A1 highway (Riga (Baltezers) - Border of Estonia (Ainaži)), also known as the Tallinn highway is a national road in Latvia, which connects the Riga bypass with the Estonian border at Ainaži. The highway continues in Estonia as highway 4 until Tallinn. A1 is fully covered in asphalt, and its length in Latvia is 101,7 km. The highway is part of European route E67 and, starting from Lilaste until the Estonian border, does not move further than 6 km from the coast of the Baltic Sea.

As of 2025, the speed limit on the A1 highway (Riga (Baltezers) – Estonian border at Ainaži) no longer includes any 100 km/h sections. On the Saulkrasti bypass and other previously designated segments, the maximum permitted speed outside populated areas is now uniformly set at 90 km/h. The speed limit along Ādaži remains 80 km/h, and throughout all other sections outside populated areas, the standard limit is also 90 km/h. These regulations are enforced to maintain road safety and reflect current traffic management practices.

Traffic

In the section until the bridge over Gauja, the road is used by about 27,000 cars a day, until the end of the Saulkrasti bypass, it's used by about 9,000 cars a day, and in the remaining part until the border, traffic intenstity reaches no more than 7,000 cars a day. Overall, the average AADT on the A1 in 2016 was 10655 cars per day.

As of 2025, the A1 highway in Latvia is equipped with seven stationary speed cameras strategically placed along its route. In addition to these, an average speed control system has been operational since September 2023 on the section between Siguļi and Lilaste (14.1–20.1 km). This system calculates the average speed of vehicles over the designated stretch to enforce compliance with speed limits and enhance road safety.

History

After Latvia's accession to the European Union in 2004, the first six kilometers until the intersection with P1 were reconstructed, widening the carriageway to 11.5 meters wide (in some places up to 12 meters), constructing sidewalks and bicycle lanes, reducing the number of exits, constructing parallel traffic roads, and reconstructing the bridge over the railway. In the same year, the section from the Gauja bridge until Lilaste was reconstructed. In this section too, the carriageway was widened to 11.5 meters wide, intersections with the most important access roads were reconstructed, and a pedestrian/cyclist bridge was built over the highway.

From July 2005 to September 2007, the construction of the Saulkrasti bypass took place. As part of the project, twenty kilometers of new roads, seven two-level road overpasses, two railway bridges, two pedestrian tunnels, several noise barriers, 13 km of access roads, as well as almost five kilometers of bicycle paths were built. The total cost of the project was 113 million euros, of which 36% (40 million euros) was co-financed by the EU Cohesion Fund. The 40-kilometer section between the Saulkrasti bypass and Svētciems was also reconstructed. In the course of the construction works, the most important intersections were reconstructed, and a three-kilometer-long footpath was also built.

In January of 2015, a tender was announced for the surface restoration of the A1 section Riga-Ādaži (0.0-6.3 km), and in February, reconstruction of the section Salacgrīva-Estonian border (89.4-101.4 km) was announced.

In May 2018, the restoration of the road surface was started in a 33-kilometer section from Dunta to Svētciems. The project cost a total of 5,35 million euros, which was fully financed by the state budget.

In June 2020, the restoration of the road surface on the Saulkrasti began. The construction works were carried out by SIA Via for a contract price of 2.2 million euros, which was fully financed by the state budget.

In order to relieve Baltezers and Ādaži from the heavy traffic, a new Skulte - Vangaži highway was considered in 2021, which would be built parallel to the Rail Baltica railway on the eastern side of the Ādaži military base. The new highway would have separate lanes, and a speed limit of 130 km/h. However, due to high construction prices, significant impact on the environment and strong public objections, in August 2022 VSIA Latvijas valsts ceļi decided not to proceed with the project.

Future

After a 2020 inspection of the Salaca bridge in Salacgrīva, it was found that the bridge, which was built in 1960, is in a critical state. Therefore, for safety reasons, traffic across the bridge is currently regulated by traffic lights, there are weight restrictions, and a distance of 30m must be kept between vehicles. It is expected that the development of the construction project for a new bridge will be completed at the end of 2022, so that construction can start in 2023. During the reconstruction of the bridge, a 6m wide temporary bypass bridge will be built. The width of the new bridge will be 14.5m, with two 4m wide driving lanes and two 2.5m wide sidewalks on the sides of the roadway. The construction project is currently being carried out by SIA Projekts 3; the contract price is 185 thousand euros, 30% of which (55 thousand euros) is financed by the municipality of Salacgriva.

As of May 2025, the Salaca River bridge in Salacgrīva, originally constructed in 1960, is undergoing a complete replacement due to its deteriorated condition. The existing structure is being demolished and replaced with a new four-span reinforced concrete girder bridge featuring steel beams and new abutments. Construction commenced in mid-2024 and is scheduled for completion by autumn 2025.

To maintain traffic flow during construction, a temporary one-lane bridge was installed. However, this structure has faced challenges, including frequent damage to its metal deck plates under heavy traffic loads. In March 2025, the temporary bridge was closed for approximately one week to replace these plates, during which time freight traffic was rerouted via regional roads.

Additionally, a two-level interchange is planned near Ādaži at the intersection with P1 to enhance safety and accessibility for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists traveling to Carnikava and Ādaži. The construction project began in 2022, with construction scheduled to commence no earlier than 2024.

Crossing roads

* A2
* P1
* P6
* P53
* P11
* P12
* P15

Cities and towns nearby

* Riga
* Baltezers
* Ādaži
* Lilaste
* Saulkrasti
* Zvejniekciems
* Dunte
* Jelgavkrasti
* Svētciems
* Salacgrīva
* Kuiviži
* Ainaži

Gallery

Image:A1-Latvia.jpg, A1 near Ādaži.
Image:Salacgriva1910.png, A1 in 1910 at Salacgrīva.
Image:LilasteStrassenbruecke.png, A1 crossing Lilaste river.
Image:ViaBalticaBauarbeiten2006.png, Sign showing the construction of Saulkrasti bypass in 2006.

References

External links

Autoceļš A1 in Google Maps

{{Coord, 57.441502, N, 24.429575, E, display=title

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