Rail level crossing in Kaunas to be replaced with a road underpass
In Kaunas, Lithuania, as part of the Rail Baltica project, the rail level crossing on Rokeliai Street will be replaced with a road underpass. LTG Infra has completed the design and build tender procedure and signed a contract with UAB Tilsta. The contract value amounts to EUR 13.9 million (incl. VAT).
In planning the Rail Baltica Kaunas railway node infrastructure, the level crossing at Rokeliai Street will be eliminated. It will be replaced with a newly designed and constructed underpass to ensure safe and smooth traffic flow for both residents and transit traffic.
“With Rail Baltica, we aim to deliver infrastructure that integrates smoothly into cities and contributes to the modernisation of the overall transport system. Each level crossing removed and replaced with an underpass or overpass ensures better traffic flow and significantly enhances safety on both roads and railways,” said Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania, Roderikas Žiobakas.
“High-speed railways must not have level crossings – this is one of the fundamental safety requirements across the European Union. These solutions are incorporated into the Special Plan and comply with all EU high-speed rail safety standards. By eliminating level crossings, we are significantly improving traffic safety and reliability,” says Acting CEO of LTG Group, Arūnas Rumskas.
The project will be implemented under a design and build contract, where the same contractor is responsible for both design and construction work. This model ensures smoother project delivery, clearer accountability, and more efficient coordination of decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
“Although the level crossing project is not particularly large in scope, it is technically quite complex – due to the limited area and nearby residential buildings, we must identify engineering solutions that enable efficient land use. Nevertheless, experience gained from a similar project in Rudamina shows that our team can address such challenges. We are confident that our accumulated expertise will ensure smooth and timely project delivery, and that the result – a modern two-level crossing – will significantly enhance safety for both drivers and pedestrians,” says Eduardas Grinaveckas, CEO of Tilsta.
The contractor is required to complete the design works within one year from the effective date of the contract. The completion of all works is scheduled for the third quarter of 2028.
The Kaunas Node is one of the most complex sections of the Rail Baltica project due to the densely urbanised area, existing transport infrastructure, and engineering networks, while the new railway infrastructure must be integrated with existing roads and the urban structure.
LTG Infra is currently also conducting other tenders for the design and construction of individual structures within the Kaunas Node. Contracts for the reconstruction of railway viaducts on Kalantos Street and Masiulio Street are expected to be signed later this year.
The design works for the Kaunas Node section are currently being carried out by a dedicated Rail Baltica Design Unit established by LTG Infra.
Rail Baltica is a strategic project for both the LTG Group and the European Union and is the largest railway infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic States. Once completed, it will deliver an electrified European standard gauge railway line connecting Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia with Central and Western Europe, strengthening regional integration, civil and military mobility, and the overall resilience of the transport system.
