Latvia to remove names of Belarusian cities from road signs. 120,000 euros is not a pity
Latvia plans to remove the names of cities and towns in Russia and Belarus from road signs. This was reported by Delfi.lv.
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There are more than 200 such signs of various sizes on the country's state roads. Their replacement or adjustment could cost approximately 120 thousand euros. Similar signs also exist on municipal roads — in this case, the costs of replacement will be covered from local government budgets.
The Ministry of Transport explains the necessity of these changes by the growing demand for such steps from politicians and society due to the full-scale war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. Cost estimates for the work are currently preliminary, as the preparatory phase is underway. They can only realistically begin with the onset of the construction season and under favorable weather conditions.
The ministry notes that partially covering or changing signs can create certain risks. For example, if part of an old sign is covered with new material, it may appear brighter and slightly distracting. However, it is emphasized that this does not refer to priority signs or other critically important indicators, so it should not have a significant impact on road safety.
At the same time, the Road Safety Analytics Department believes that covering part of a sign is not good traffic management practice.
According to the plans of the Ministry of Transport, all work on the replacement or partial adjustment of road signs must be completed no later than September 30, 2026.