Liepāja borrows money for roads so the wind has something to blow across

Liepāja city council has decided that the city needs new roads, so they'll borrow almost one and a half million euros. For the reconstruction of Raiņa Street, they plan to take a loan of 1,078,421 euros, and another 313,183 euros for Metalurgs infrastructure. Together it adds up to about the same as a middle-class apartment in Riga costs, except here we'll get roads you can actually drive on for that money.

While Riga councilors are still debating whether roads are necessary, in Liepāja we already know - without roads you can't get to work or return from work. Especially considering that Liepāja's wind is legendary, uninvited guest in any season that can carry away even a well-loaded truck, not to mention pedestrians. So it's better to have a safe road under your feet than no road at all.

'Finally something is being done right,' says local entrepreneur Valdis. 'In Metalurgs they already built 2,100 meters of new road last year. Now you can at least deliver goods without worrying that your vehicle will get stuck in a pothole bigger than Lake Liepāja.' Though he adds that now you have to watch out for tourists who've arrived from Riga and can't understand why roads in Liepāja are straight and without potholes.

The total project cost is 2,216,773.24 euros, but the Central Finance and Contracting Agency has promised to help with 913,925.12 euros. The municipality itself only has to contribute 17,893.92 euros from its own pocket, which is less than the Riga mayor spends monthly on coffee breaks. So everything's fine - Liepāja once again proves it knows how to handle money more wisely than the capital.