The existing section of Main Road A1, connecting Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda, is being reconstructed within the Elektrėnai Municipality to meet motorway safety and traffic requirements. This project plays a crucial role in improving road safety, increasing traffic capacity, and enhancing the regional transport infrastructure.
Main Objectives and Measures:
- Conversion to a Motorway:
The primary goal is to upgrade the current expressway into a motorway, ensuring safer driving conditions and increased speed limits (from 110 km/h to 130 km/h) for more efficient travel. - Median Barrier Upgrades:
Existing barriers in the central reservation will be replaced with higher-containment level safety barriers that meet motorway standards, significantly increasing road safety. - Improved Acceleration/Deceleration Lanes:
Geometric improvements will be made to acceleration and deceleration lanes to align with motorway requirements, ensuring smoother and safer merging and exiting maneuvers. - Wildlife Fencing:
Protective fencing will be installed along the entire section to prevent wild animals from entering the road, reducing the risk of accidents. - Pedestrian Safety – Underground Crossings:
New underground pedestrian passages will be built to enable safe crossings and eliminate pedestrian-vehicle conflict points. - Reconstruction of Access Roads:
Existing accesses will be redesigned with appropriate merging lanes to facilitate safe and efficient connections to the main road.
Technical Solutions:
- Road Widening:
To accommodate higher traffic volumes, the road will be widened to meet motorway standards. - Enhanced Safety Measures:
Additional safety features such as improved lighting, updated road markings, and automated traffic monitoring systems will be introduced. - Utility and Drainage Upgrades:
The reconstruction includes updates to engineering utilities and drainage systems to ensure proper water runoff and infrastructure durability.
Benefits of the Project:
- Enhanced Road Safety:
The combination of upgraded barriers, safer merging lanes, and pedestrian underpasses will significantly reduce the risk of accidents for both drivers and pedestrians. - Smoother and Faster Traffic Flow:
Road widening and a higher speed limit will reduce travel time and increase overall efficiency, improving the quality of transportation services. - Economic Development:
Better transport infrastructure will support regional economic growth by enhancing trade, tourism, and logistics opportunities. - Improved Safety and Comfort for Residents:
The project will ensure safer travel for local communities and better access to key urban and rural areas.
The reconstruction of the A1 main road within the Elektrėnai Municipality is a key infrastructure project that enhances safety, optimizes traffic flows, and contributes to the region’s economic development. It creates better travel conditions for both local residents and transit traffic, transforming one of Lithuania’s most important transport corridors into a high-standard motorway.