Wildlife on Track: Rail Baltica’s Underpass in Lithuania Welcomes First Animal Crossings

Beneath the tracks of Rail Baltica, a new kind of movement is underway—one that safeguards biodiversity, cuts transport emissions, and unites the Baltic states with the heart of Europe.

One of Lithuania’s most modern wildlife underpasses is now seeing its first animal crossings as construction on the Šveicarija–Žeimiai section of the Rail Baltica project nears completion. According to LTG Infra, the 5-metre-high, 30-metre-wide underground structure has been designed to allow safe animal migration under both a broad-gauge railway and regional road No. 144 Jonava–Kėdainiai–Šeduva.

As construction equipment is gradually removed, workers have already spotted deer, fox, and hare tracks in the dedicated wildlife corridor. "Using this infrastructure enhances not just animals' safety, but that of all transport users," said Vytis Žalimas, CEO of LTG Infra. "It’s crucial for areas where both railway and regional road infrastructure intersect."

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First of Its Kind in Lithuania

According to Dovilė Juškevičienė, Environmental and Impact Assessment Expert at RB Rail AS, this is one of the first large-scale wildlife underpasses of its kind not only in Rail Baltica but across Lithuania. Originally, a passage for animals was planned further north, but biodiversity studies found that wildlife preferred to migrate along rivers, not across cultivated fields.

"Instead of building a culvert for the Lankesa River, we designed a major underpass for large animals without altering the natural riverbed," explained Juškevičienė. The 10 km section includes three wildlife crossings: one large underpass and two smaller ones for small to medium animals. To meet environmental requirements, at least one riverbank must remain dry during spring floods. Now, with machinery presence declining, even moose footprints have been found near the fenced Neris Bridge construction site.

Environmental Design Prioritised

LTG Infra’s environmental planning doesn’t stop at construction. Wildlife monitoring will continue for at least three years after the launch of high-speed operations. Additional measures, such as vegetative guidance strips or attractants like salt (already used in Estonia), may be deployed to encourage animals to use the underpasses or green bridges safely.

"Even in fenced areas, workers regularly find signs that curious animals have inspected the newly compacted ground," Juškevičienė added. The design prioritises a full separation of infrastructure levels, avoiding any level crossings with other roads or rails to reduce risk for both animals and humans.

Safety for All: A Shared Objective

Traffic collisions in the EU result in 20,000 human deaths annually, according to Eurostat. Although rail accounts for only around 4% of such incidents, animal-related accidents remain a persistent hazard, especially on roads. As transport speeds increase, so too does the demand for stringent safety infrastructure. The Rail Baltica project incorporates these measures from the ground up, ensuring compatibility with both environmental and safety goals.

In 2023, the three Baltic countries jointly completed the Rail Baltica Sustainability Study, which set environmental targets for both the construction and operation phases. This includes further development of climate change management plans and a trans-Baltic biodiversity corridor strategy.

Rail Baltica: A Green Strategic Corridor

Rail Baltica is the largest rail infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic States. Co-funded by the EU and managed by the LTG Group, the electrified European-gauge railway will connect Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to Central and Western Europe. The line is being developed with long-term environmental integration in mind, not only enhancing civilian and military mobility, but also preserving wildlife migration patterns. As Žalimas noted, "We care not just about construction speed but also about environmental protection and long-term safety."

The wildlife underpass near Šveicarija–Žeimiai is just one example of how Rail Baltica is balancing infrastructure development with ecological responsibility—a model for green transport corridors across the continent.

Sources: LTG Infra