Riga traffic restrictions for Lāčplēsis Day start on Monday as Bāriņu Street closes

Events marking Lāčplēsis Day (11 November), which honours those who fought for Latvia’s independence, will affect traffic in Riga from Monday, not just on the day itself. The restrictions announced by the city council will hit Āgenskalns hardest, a neighbourhood on the left bank of the Daugava where the event “Rīga, mūžības skartā” (“Riga, touched by eternity”) will be held near Victory Park.

Āgenskalns: from Monday evening

From 20:00 on 9 November until 12:00 on 12 November, Bāriņu Street will be closed in both directions between Uzvaras Boulevard and the turning point near Hermaņa Street, and stopping and parking there will be banned. During this period bus routes 4, 7, 8, 21, 25, 38, 39 and 55 will be diverted, and the “Āgenskalna tirgus” (Āgenskalns Market) and “Eduarda Smiļģa iela” stops will be closed in both directions. Temporary stops will be set up on Mazā Nometņu Street, near building No. 27.

From 08:00 on Monday until midday on 12 November, stopping and parking will be banned on Mazā Nometņu Street (from Ojāra Vācieša Street to Kokles Street) and on Hermaņa Street (from Ojāra Vācieša Street to Bāriņu Street). Vehicles left in the restricted zones may be moved to other permitted parking areas.

11 November: the embankment and the torchlight procession

On Lāčplēsis Day itself, the 11 November Embankment (11. novembra krastmala), the riverside road along the Old Town, will be closed to traffic between the Vanšu Bridge and the Stone Bridge (Akmens tilts) from 17:00 until midnight; two-way traffic will run on Pils Street and Dome Square during this time. From 16:40 a torchlight procession will set off from Riga Brothers’ Cemetery towards Freedom Square and the embankment along Varoņu, Gaujas, Miera and Brīvības streets, Brīvības Boulevard and Kaļķu Street — traffic along the route may be restricted or stopped.

On 11 November parking bans will also apply on Meierovica Boulevard (06:00–15:00), Herdera Square (07:00–11:00), Aizsaules and Varoņu streets and the car park at Forest Cemetery I (06:00–19:30). The council urges people to plan their journeys in advance and to follow updates from Rīgas satiksme, the city’s public transport operator, on changes to services.