The Southern Bridge is the most extensive and largest construction project in the Baltics in last 25 years and exceeds all previous bridges of Riga in terms of work involved.

The bridge was devised to connect the southwest part of the left bank of the Daugava with the right bank without intersecting the city centre, thus reducing traffic congestions. The transit traffic to Jelgava, Bauska, Ogre, Sigulda, Saulkrasti, Vecmīlgrāvis, and Carnikava can now bypass the city centre. The new bridge reduces the traffic in Krasta Street, the Embankment of 11 November, and across the Salu Bridge.

The technical design and construction of the first stage of the Southern Bridge was carried out by JSCTransport Systems, composed of six Latvian construction companies – JSC BMGS, JSC Latvijas Tilti,Rīgas Tilti Ltd., Skonto Būve Ltd., Tilts Ltd. and Viadukts Ltd. All of these companies have a strong reputation in their area of business and long experience of work in Latvia and abroad.