Prolonged and intense rainfall in Latvia’s Latgale region this summer has significantly slowed construction along the country’s eastern border with Russia and Belarus, according to State Real Estate (VNĪ) board member Jeļena Gavrilova. The adverse weather has created major logistical challenges, making it difficult to access project sites and transport heavy equipment, particularly in swampy and remote areas.

Data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shows that in some border regions, rainfall totals have consistently exceeded monthly norms by more than 100% since May. This has led to high humidity, mud, and water accumulation at construction sites. Workers are often forced to build temporary access infrastructure—such as footbridges, pontoons, or wooden coverings—just to reach their work areas. In certain places, conditions are so severe that heavy machinery cannot be used at all, halting progress until the weather improves.

Since May, there have been only four days without rain, and even on those occasions, saturated soil has prevented work from resuming. Gavrilova stressed that safety remains the top priority, noting that the current water levels do not allow for safe working conditions. She said that teams are adapting through flexible work planning and resource reallocation to take advantage of brief periods when conditions permit construction.

Despite the setbacks, around 250 kilometers of border fencing have been completed along the Latvian-Russian border, with only 19 kilometers left to build. Progress on this final stretch remains dependent on weather conditions. Four cable-stayed bridges over the Zilupe, Ludza, Liepna, and Rītupe rivers have already been put into operation. On the Latvian-Belarusian border, fence construction is complete, and work is now focused on building bypass roads, particularly near Lake Riči, to connect existing infrastructure and ensure swift movement for border guards.

State Real Estate continues to coordinate with construction companies and other agencies to adapt to changing conditions and maintain as much project continuity as possible. Gavrilova reaffirmed that completing the eastern border fortifications remains a national security priority and that full-scale construction will resume as soon as weather conditions allow.