Old Town shuts to cars for Latvia’s independence holiday: where drivers cannot park

Riga city council on 12 November published a detailed list of traffic restrictions for Latvia’s state holidays. A dress rehearsal of the military parade takes place on Tuesday, 17 November, and on Wednesday, 18 November, Latvia marks the 108th anniversary of its proclamation as a state. The council urged drivers to plan their journeys in advance. Here is where and when you cannot drive or leave your car.

Where is parking banned?

• From 20:00 on 16 November to 23:00 on 18 November: both sides of the 11 November Embankment from the Stone Bridge (Akmens tilts) to Muitas Street, and the street running parallel to it.
• From 15:00 on 17 November to 18:00 on 18 November: both sides of Kaļķu Street from the embankment to Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums).
• From 20:00 on 17 November to midnight on 18 November: both sides of Aspazijas Boulevard (from Krišjāņa Barona Street to Kaļķu Street) and Z. A. Meierovica Boulevard (from Kaļķu Street to Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street).
• From 20:00 on 17 November to 11:00 on 18 November: Herdera Square.
• 18 November, 08:00–20:00: the right-hand side of Krišjāņa Barona Street from Raiņa Boulevard to Aspazijas Boulevard, Raiņa Boulevard from Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street to Krišjāņa Barona Street, and the Centenary Alley by Kronvalda Boulevard 2.
• 18 November, 07:00–16:00: the right-hand side of Skanstes Street from Sporta Street to Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street.
• From 08:00 on 13 November to 23:00 on 18 November, stopping is banned outside Pils Square 4.

Which streets close on Tuesday?

• 17 November, 08:00–15:00: the right-hand lane of the embankment will be restricted, and closed if needed, along a 150-metre stretch from Miesnieku Street towards Poļu Gāte.
• From 13:00 on 17 November to midnight on 18 November: Poļu Gāte and Bīskapa Gāte streets are closed to traffic between the embankment and the parallel street.
• From 15:00 on 17 November to 18:00 on 18 November: the embankment from the Stone Bridge to Muitas Street, Eksporta Street from Elizabetes Street to the embankment (access to the Riga Passenger Port stays open) and Kaļķu Street from the embankment to Town Hall Square are closed. During this time Pils Street from Poļu Gāte to Dome Square, and the stretch of Dome Square from Pils Street to Jēkaba Street, will carry two-way traffic.
• Over the same period, heavy goods vehicles are banned from Eksporta Street between Hanzas Street and Muitas Street, and from Krasta Street between the Island Bridge (Salu tilts) and 13 January Street.

Tuesday evening dress rehearsal

The parade dress rehearsal begins on the embankment at 18:00 on 17 November. From 18:00 until it ends, the Stone Bridge, Uzvaras Boulevard from Valguma Street to the Stone Bridge, the embankment from the Stone Bridge to the Railway Bridge, and 13 January Street from Raiņa Boulevard to the embankment may be closed as needed. Until 23:00 the closures may also cover the embankment up to Ģenerāļa Radziņa krastmala, and that road as far as Kārļa Mīlenbaha Street. Buses 12 and 34 will take a detour after 18:00 but will serve all stops on their routes, said Rīgas satiksme, the city’s public transport operator.

Wednesday: parade, student march and torchlight procession

• 07:30–11:00: short closures are possible along the route of a student march from the University of Latvia main building on Raiņa Boulevard to the Riga Brethren Cemetery (via Brīvības, Miera and Gaujas streets and across the Brasa Bridge).
• From 07:00 until the end of the parade: the AB dam is closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.
• 10:00–18:00: restrictions on Ģenerāļa Radziņa krastmala, Kārļa Mīlenbaha Street, Krasta Street from Jēzusbaznīcas Street to the Island Bridge on-ramp, and the Island Bridge off-ramps to Krasta Street.
• 13:00 to midnight: the Old Town is closed to vehicles, except those with special permits.
• The parade starts at 13:30; between 13:30 and 15:00 the Stone Bridge, Uzvaras Boulevard, the embankment as far as the Railway Bridge and 13 January Street may be closed as needed.
• 18:00–19:45: a torchlight procession runs from the Kārlis Ulmanis monument along Raiņa Boulevard, Krišjāņa Barona Street, Aspazijas Boulevard, Meierovica Boulevard and Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street. From 18:00 to midnight Aspazijas and Meierovica boulevards are closed except to public transport and permit holders; buses and trams from Raiņa Boulevard will be diverted via Elizabetes and Satekles streets during the procession.

Public transport on the holiday

Public transport in Riga is free on 18 November, and so is on-street municipal parking run by Rīgas satiksme. During the parade, bus 22 towards the airport will leave its route after the 13 January Street stop, detour via the Island Bridge and Uzvaras Boulevard, and call at the National Library stop after the Valguma Street junction; the operator advises airport passengers to set off early. From 17:00 to midnight extra services will run on 14 bus, four tram and eight trolleybus routes.