Klaipėda city officials will begin excavations at 15 locations in Atgimimo Square where explosives may still be present, the municipality said Thursday.
“After conducting a magnetometer survey of the square, 15 sites with a probability of explosives were identified,” Andrius Kačalinas, head of the city’s Legal and Personnel Department, told BNS. “Excavations will soon take place to ensure the safety of the construction site and lift the emergency situation.”
The square has been under a municipal-level emergency declaration since November 2024, when a large number of World War Two-era explosives were discovered. At the time, Vice Mayor Algirdas Kamarauskas told LRT that about 50 explosives had been removed and neutralised after partial clearing.
During the preparatory work for demining, valuable foundations were also uncovered, prompting city officials to consider how to proceed with the reconstruction project.
Archaeological and architectural plans
“Architects are currently preparing proposals for how the new square could preserve the former urban structure without abandoning the overall project,” Kačalinas said.
The city plans to discuss the proposals with experts in archaeology, architecture, and decision-makers.
“Everyone, both heritage specialists and construction participants, agrees that burying and preserving the uncovered structures in situ is the easiest and cheapest option,” Kačalinas said. “However, it is also the worst solution, because it would prevent the public from accessing the heritage, which is the primary goal.”
Kačalinas noted that due to gaps in legal regulations, the city itself has had to organise explosives detection services, coordinating them with earthworks. Mayor Arvydas Vaitkus previously said the central government should provide clearer rules for private involvement in demining, as hiring commercial companies for the work is complex.
Reconstruction project
Reconstruction of Atgimimo Square, located in the centre of the city, began in summer 2022 but was halted in October 2024 after 27 explosives were discovered during archaeological surveys. The Lithuanian Armed Forces surveyed the site and required the municipality to clear the square for demining. However, the site remains uncleared due to the discovery of valuable foundations and ongoing deliberations.
The public procurement contract for the square’s reconstruction was awarded to the company Infes. The more than €21 million project is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
According to the original plan, the square will become more accessible and feature a multifunctional centrepiece with a historical map of Klaipėda, an amphitheatre, and a two-level underground parking garage with 231 spaces.
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