A man who has traveled half the world and a long-time employee of UAB Tilsta, Eurėlijus Jegelevičius often says that journeys were his greatest source of inspiration. Together with a group of friends, he set off on adventures across South America, Africa, and other corners of the globe, exploring the wonders of nature and human creation. Yet after every impressive journey, he always returned with joy to building bridges – a vocation that became an inseparable part of his life and left a deep mark on both his career and his heart.

Having spent more than three decades in bridge construction, Jegelevičius never aspired to climb the career ladder. Although he received many offers to take managerial positions, he always remained loyal to his craft, which he truly loved. “I like to see and experience my work up close,” he says. “Being in management was never my goal, because then you lose direct connection with the process. For me, the most important thing is to watch a bridge rise – something into which I put my effort and heart.”

Every time he drives past a bridge with his grandchildren, Eurėlijus often hears the question: “Grandpa, did you build this bridge too?” He laughs, remembering how he used to point out the bridges he had worked on, but now there’s no need – the grandchildren simply assume that he built them all. Moments like these, when he can share the fruits of his work with his loved ones, bring him the greatest satisfaction. For him, each bridge is not only an engineering structure but also a symbol of his life: strong, durable, and lasting.

Colleagues – the greatest motivation

Modern technologies have greatly changed the process of bridge construction – today, it is much easier than it was decades ago. Now, much less physical strength is needed. “Back then, concrete was delivered by dump trucks and had to be shoveled out by hand – today, concrete pumps do the job. When manual work was an inseparable part of the process, people’s bonds were even stronger. I must admit, in a job like this, the most important thing is the people, those I worked with for many years,” he adds.

What Jegelevičius values most is the time spent with his colleagues. “Our team was very close. We joined sports events, ran together – we supported each other even outside of working hours,” he recalls with a smile. UAB Tilsta Technical Director Tadas Daškevičius calls him a model employee and a true team leader. “Eurėlijus was always the one the team looked up to, especially when working on the most complex and demanding projects. Safety at work was always his top priority – he cared not only about his own safety but also about that of his colleagues. His footprints remain not only in the bridges he built but also in our memories,” emphasizes Daškevičius.

Over his career, Jegelevičius encountered not only technical challenges but also extraordinary experiences. He still smiles remembering when President Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas visited the construction site and requested that the Mindaugas Bridge be completed before the Song Festival. “It was an incredible pressure, but we managed. That was one of those moments when I realized how much can be achieved when working together as a team.”

Stanislovas Butkevičius, another long-time Tilsta employee and manager who worked alongside Eurėlijus for decades, recalls never meeting another bridge builder who could inspire others so much by personal example. “Eurėlijus always carried out his work very thoroughly and professionally, and he had great communication skills. Colleagues respected and listened to him – even the occasional rebels who usually had some complaints,” Butkevičius recalls with a smile.

As years passed, new bridge-building technologies were introduced, small-scale mechanization was transformed, and powerful construction machinery took over much of the work. Jegelevičius was always curious about innovations in bridge and overpass construction and keen to make the best use of them. He adapted quickly to new technical environments, understanding that they were tools to make work better and faster. “Everyone at the company valued and respected Eurėlijus – from managers to workers,” Butkevičius remembers.

Travel – the best form of rest

Though he gave his heart to bridge construction, Eurėlijus always found time not only for work but also for exploring the world. Even now, enjoying a well-earned retirement, he still actively travels with a group of ten friends, aiming to discover all continents and their secrets. “Traveling is my best form of rest,” he says. In the past, he used to ski and practice athletics, but today his heart belongs to journeys into the farthest corners of the world. South America – especially Chile and Peru – left an indelible impression, and now he eagerly awaits his last unexplored destination: Australia. “Every place has its own unique beauty and secrets,” he says with a modest smile.

Each bridge he built is a solid legacy for future generations, and his long experience has been an invaluable lesson for younger colleagues. “What I will miss most are the people and the sense of togetherness. I spent more time with colleagues than with my own family,” he recalls. Proudly, he adds that UAB Tilsta was both his first and only workplace – a place where he found not only professional fulfillment but also a close-knit community.

Key projects Eurėlijus Jegelevičius worked on between 2008–2023:

• Reconstruction of the bridge over the Mera River on the Vilnius–Švenčionys–Zarasai road (2008)

• Reconstruction works on the narrow-gauge railway section Panevėžys–Anykščiai–Rubikiai (2012)

• Construction of the bridge over the Žeimena River in Pabradė (2013)

• Reconstruction of the railway crossing on the Marijampolė–Šeštokai section (2014)

• Construction of the Kaunas Public Logistics Center intermodal terminal in Palemonas railway hub (2015)

• Reconstruction of the bridge over the Šešupė River on the Vinčai–Pilviškiai–Vilkaviškis road (2015)

• Trans-European network connection – construction of Stage III of the Vilnius Western Bypass (2015)

• Reconstruction of the bridge over the Rudamina River on road A15 Vilnius–Lida (2015)

• Reconstruction of the bridge over the Musė River in Plikiškiai, Širvintos District (2015)

• Major repairs of the bridge over the Nemunas River in Jurbarkas (2017)

• Expansion of the E67 Via Baltica highway – reconstruction of the Kaunas–Marijampolė–Suwałki road (2017)

• Construction works on the bridge over the Vilnia River in Vilnius (2018)

• Reconstruction of the two-level intersection of Liepkalnis St., Žirniai St., and Minskas Highway (2019)

• Repair of the bridge over the Žaugėda River on the Švenčionys–Rieškutėnai–Rėkučiai road (2020)

• Reconstruction of the bridge over the Mera River in Gužiai, Pabradė area (2020)

• Reconstruction of the Bendoriai–Riešė–Kalinas road bridge, including bicycle paths (2020)

• Construction of viaducts and structures on the A5 Kaunas–Marijampolė–Suwałki “Via Baltica” highway (2023)