▷ The underpass installed on the Vilnius-Kaunas highway

During an investigation into the Strochune Tunnel project on the A1 Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipeda highway near Electrena, inspectors from the Ministry of Transport discovered that what was initially planned as a small underpass and intersection to be completed in 2017 had, in just a few years—likely due to poor decision-making—developed into a large infrastructure project: a tunnel connecting multiple roads and roundabouts, capable of handling large vehicles. Given the high construction costs, the Ministry of Transport, concerned about the discovered irregularities and potential damage to the country, has referred the matter to the Attorney General’s Office.

The underpass installed on the Vilnius-Kaunas highway

“The audit showed that the value of the construction project of the Strošiūnai tunnel on the Vilnius-Kaunas road could have increased by around 3 million euros due to the lack of cost-benefit analysis and economically unreasonable decisions, perhaps under the influence of various interests. The tunnel, originally planned as an underground passage, has not only become 2 meters higher, but is also “overgrown” with connecting roads and roundabouts, although an intersection is not possible here at two levels. Due to possible damage to the highway and with questionable benefits for society, the audit material was handed over to the police,” says Communications Minister Marius Skuodis.

Following the appeal from the Ministry of Transport, the Attorney General’s Office instructed the Financial Crimes Investigation Service to evaluate the information provided and decide whether there are grounds for launching a preliminary investigation.

The decision to install the Strošiūnai tunnel (underpass) was made in 2017-2018, during the preparation of the technical project and after receiving requests from natural persons – residents of the village of Strošiūnai, which is located near the highway. In the original version, the tunnel was intended for transport up to 2.5 m in height, the total width of the roadway and sidewalk was 4 m. While the Lithuanian Motor Roads Directorate (LAKD) was considering design issues, the decision was made to move the tunnel to another location and equip it with larger dimensions, adapting it to agricultural equipment: 4.5 m high and the same width.

During the audit it emerged that the change to the original project

was probably influenced by the 2018 request from the manager of the Strošiūnai kart track to install connecting roads. Subsequently, not only the connecting roads, but also two roundabouts were designed in this plant. In this way, public procurement procedures may have been violated, because according to the original design specifications there should have been no connecting roads or roundabouts.

Be at, The installation of a two-level intersection in Strošiūnai also violated the provision of the Technical Road Regulations according to which intersections must be installed at a distance of at least 5 km. The next closest intersections at different levels are 2.6 and 3.8 km away.

Changes were made both during the design and execution of the contract that increased the value of these contracts. During the execution of the contract, as many as 19 agreements (34 amendments) were signed for additional work, during the execution of which, for one reason or another, it was necessary to change the solutions of the technical project, which raises doubts about the quality of its preparation.

The conclusions of the audit show that the technical decisions regarding the modification of the dimensions of the Strošiūnai tunnel, the relocation of the tunnel and the installation of connecting roads with roundabouts were made for the benefit of a dozen people, in the absence of evidence based on calculations regarding their necessity and profitability, and in violation of the requirements of the Law on Public Procurement and the Technical Regulation of Roads. euro higher than expected, the value of the investment should be treated as damage.

According to the contract, the value of the installation of the Strošiūnai tunnel together with the connecting roads is 5.2 million. of euros, of which up to 2021 in June there were works completed for almost 5.1 million. euro.

The Ministry hopes that law enforcement agencies will determine the real situation and evaluate whether all decision makers performed their duties correctly and acted legally. To avoid similar situations in the future, the Ministry also obliged LAKD to conduct cost-benefit analyzes for all bridges, tunnels and viaducts planned and built from now on and to publish them.