The 800m-long cable-stayed Southern Bridge was originally estimated to cost US$200 million, but the final cost was US$1.06 billion. It opened in November.

The auditor blamed factors including poor project management and factors such as the local government's agreement to pay unjustified claims for rising costs, which wasted US$50 million. Planning was inadequate and there was insufficient research into the project's needs and its impact on Riga's traffic, says the report. It also criticises the procurement process, saying that it resulted in a contract that put the municipality at a disadvantage. The contract included conditions that allowed unrestricted increases in prices, rather than capping them at 10%, says the auditor.