http://main.turismslatvija.lv/texts/Image/gulbene/gulbene_gerb.jpg

The town of Gulbene is located 186 km from Riga and it was granted its town right in 1928. The coat of arms of the town depicts a silver swan on a black background. The reason behind the swan being the symbol of town is that the name Gulbene originates from the Latvian word “gulbis” – a swan. Gulbene was first mentioned in chronicles in 1224.

In this thread I'll try to post news about all projects that are being implemented and planned in Gulbene town and region. The aim of projects is to make town and region more attractive for businessmen, tourists and the citizens themselves, raising the quality of life in rural and urban areas.

If you want to know something more:
http://www.gulbene.lv/
http://www.gulbenesdome.lv
http://www.banitis.lv/
http://www.baltapils.lv/

I'll start with street reconstruction.

First stage is allready completed.

Second stage is partly done. Municipality had some misunderstandings with construction company. So this stage will be finished together with third stage this spring-autumn.

Transit street reconstruction maybe will happen although Region Council missed the deadline for the submission of Brīvības street reconstruction addition to
Ministry of Transport, so it may be a lost opportunity for LVL 2 000 000.

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/ielu_rekonstrukcija.jpg

welcome nice to see Gulbene :)

Most important infrastructure projects:

Gulbene city street reconstruction round 1: LVL 968 428
Traffic Safety Improvement Gulbenes city: LVL 82 960
Gulbene city street reconstruction round 2: LVL 1,835,581
Gulbene Culture center renovation: LVL 1,22 million
Gulbene preschools renovation stage 1 and 2: LVL 340 888
“Sveķi" special boarding primary school infrastructure and equipment improvement: LVL 111,404

Climate change financial instruments:

"Energy efficiency increase”
Gulbene 2nd high school, Lejasciems high school and Ranka preschool "Ābelīte" :LVL 468 841
Gulbene Water Management Development 2nd stage: LVL 6,142,588

Estonia - Latvia Cross-border Cooperation Programme:

"With a bike through Vidzeme and South Estonia“: EUR 103,132

All of these projects are finished or in final stage.

Congratulations on the new thread! :applause: I've been waiting for this a long time, your updates were/are good.

Thank you!
Six months after you suggested to create a separate thread, I finally decided to do it.:cheers:

I'll start this update with streets

Gaitnieku Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_87.jpg
Vidus Street got new sidewalk from Rīgas til Kalpaka Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_86.jpg
Another stretch was fully reconstructed
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_94.jpg
The rest of Vidus Street will be reconstructed in 3rd Street reconstruction stage.

Dzelzceļa Street got only 1st layer of asphalt. Second layer will be laid in next year.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_7.jpg

Bus and railway station area was reconstructed too.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_10.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_13.jpg

Skolas Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_23.jpg

Līkā Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_83.jpg

Pamatu Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_57.jpg

1.maija Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_55.jpg

Dzilnas Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_54.jpg

Kalpaka Street from Blaumaņa til Parka Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_41.jpg

Nākotnes Street
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_36.jpg

Planned new Streets in Nākotnes massif
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_35.jpg

Let's continue with renovated storey houses.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_85.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_77.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_71.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_64.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_29.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_31.jpg

Couldn't take more pics, cause my hands were freezin' and the day was lousy if we talk about weather conditions (rain, snow, then again rain). And sorry for the quality, but the main idea should be clear. :)

Gorgeous thread revival and update! Very cute little town. :) Btw, are the 2nd and 3rd stages of street reconstruction finished or still ongoing?

Now i want to visit Gulbene! :D
It looks realy, realy nice, and has changed dramaticly since i was there some 10 years ago.

Mmmm.... if only Riga did 1/10 of it...

Gorgeous thread revival and update! Very cute little town. :) Btw, are the 2nd and 3rd stages of street reconstruction finished or still ongoing?

2nd stage should've ended last summer, but due to strife between districts council and contractor 2nd stage was divided in 2 parts, 1 st part was finished last summer and 2nd part was almost ended this summer.
Everybody is hoping that tehere will be 3rd stage. It is yet unclear.

Now i want to visit Gulbene! :D
It looks realy, realy nice, and has changed dramaticly since i was there some 10 years ago.

You had an excellent opportunity. There was a trip last saturday with train - "Tautas ekskursija ar vilcienu". Really nice event with various attractions in every wagon (6 in total).
Gulbene welcomed travelers with orcestra, free tours in Gulbene depot, rides with handcar, viewing reconstruction of steam locomotive.
Next part was ride with narrow gauge railway to Stāmeriena. Stāmeriena offered shopping in bazaar and free excursions to Stāmeriena palace and orthodox church. Outward journey ended in Alūksne.

I'll post a pic from station area before reconstruction. These are really dramatical changes, in a good way. :)

Let's take a look at some more renovation works done.

Culture center. Don't have pics from inside, maybe next time when i'll be home
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_78.jpg

1st kindergarden - fully renovated
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_82.jpg

2nd kindergarden - fully renovated
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_65.jpg

3rd kindergaden - interior renovation complete, works on facade planned.

Gymnasium and highschool new building for science classrooms, cafeteria and wardrobes. So it stands there 4 years already. Municipality can't find 700'000 lats to complete the building. All the new inventory and equipment stands in boxes because existing classrooms are too small and aren't suitable for it.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_18.jpg

Last winter's snow damaged newly built manor greenhouses.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_49.jpg

There is large project for stadium reconstruction, which includes: soccer field, runway, 2 basketball field, 2 beach volleyball field, 1 volleyball field and stadium stands reconstruction - those are plans for future. But its clear that this is needed, cause Gulbene soccer team will play in higher league also next year.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_40.jpg

Bowling alley - started and already for sale. No entertainment for people. :( Except soccer :)
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_88.jpg

Reconstructed buldings.
District's Council.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/Gulbene/P7220210.jpg

2nd highschool.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_70.jpg

Buildings built in recent years.
New extension was built for Swedbank. Now this building is occupied by 3 banks and ensurance company.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_63.jpg

New bulding on the left and light orange one in background.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_74.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_72.jpg

Ugly box - supermarket.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_69.jpg

Traffic safety administration building.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/20111113_45.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/o0RaiviS0o/Gulbene/P7220219.jpg

So these are few works done in previous years. Hope you enjoyed this update. :)

Very good. Gulbene deserves a decent stadium for it's football team!

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/6862/p9030051.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/p9030051.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
2011-03-09. Reconstruction of Dzelzceļa iela