Hanzas Crossing over the Daugava river

Key facts

Length:
2,38 km
Research area:
1000 ha
Streets:
> 40km
Announce:
To be completed in 2025
Location:
Riga, Latvia
Date:
2009 - 2011
Client:
Riga City Council
 

Hanzas crossing development will reduce total traffic time, total distance, emissions in Riga city, introduce clear road hierarchy and improve traffic conditions on city centre bridges (Vansu bridge reducing traffic by 19%, Akmens bridge by 4%). The total length of the Hanzas crossing will be approx. 2 km from tunnel mouth to tunnel mouth. At a speed of 50 km per hour, this will offer motorists a journey time of approximately 2 - 3 minutes through the tunnel.

Hanzas crossing development will reduce total traffic time, total distance, emissions in Riga city, introduce clear road hierarchy and improve traffic conditions on city centre bridges (Vansu bridge reducing traffic by 19%, Akmens bridge by 4%). The total length of the Hanzas crossing will be approx. 2 km from tunnel mouth to tunnel mouth. At a speed of 50 km per hour, this will offer motorists a journey time of approximately 2 - 3 minutes through the tunnel. 

Hanzas crossing surrounding area includes future development objects with total projected area more than 3 mln m2 of GFA and total generated traffic flow 12400 A/h in morning peak and 19100 A/h in evening peak.

The main purposes of transportation impact study are:

  • Provide reliable guidance on short- and long-range planning of Hanzas crossing surrounding territory and improvements necessary to permit the transportation system to satisfactorily accommodate Hanzas crossing traffic and traffic generated by future development objects.
  • Assist transportation planners in making critical land use site planning decisions regarding traffic, other modal needs and transportation aspects for Hanzas crossing surrounding territory.
  • Evaluate economically feasible types of Hanzas crossing. 

For transport impact study and modelling was used Riga Transport Digital Simulation Model, which includes several corrections, such as: future development objects and road network structure improvements.

Hanzas crossing as extension of Hanzas street should connect Daugava River both banks with connections on Kipsala and Daugavgrivas street. During the project, Hanzas crossing several variants were analysed (short tunnel, long tunnel and low bridge with a lifting span).

All suggested variants for Hanzas crossing were evaluated and analysed. And main results such as total travel time, total travel distance, total emission CO, Nox, HC were received:

5 zones (the whole Riga Transport Digital Simulation Model, Riga city ring, Riga centre ring, RVC AZ – Riga Historical Centre and It’s Protection Zone Territory, Project study area) were chosen for main result collection:

Analysing received main results, as the best variant is recommended short tunnel variant.

In frame of project were evaluated and analysed two possible additional Northern corridor connections with Riga centre ring in vicinity of Duntes street and Gaujas street.

Macromodeling results showed that connection in vicinity of Duntes street will improve the best way accessibility of future building area to Northern corridor and by 4% and 6% in morning and evening peak hours accordingly.

Summarizing the simulation results for short tunnel variant for 2025 year it has been recommended that is necessary and sufficient only one perspective connection development in vicinity of Duntes street – Zirnu Street connection.

 It’s also important to note that emission results for this variant were the best ones 

As the macromodeling results showed an unallowable level of service on several junctions in study area, it was recommended to reduce the amount of future development so that study area’s generated flow would be decreased by 20%.

Using macro- and micromodeling the main junctions and road section were analysed and necessary reconstruction’s events were recommended.