RIGA — The general contractors for the construction of Latvia’s national library announced Thursday that the opening of the grandiose project will have to be postponed once again due to funding cuts.

Maris Vidauskas, a member of the joint construction committee for the National Library, was quoted in Latvian media on Thursday as saying that without complete funding in 2010 contractors cannot complete construction in mid-2011, pursuant to the original schedule.

Vidauskas did not specify when construction of the 135 million lat (€190 million) library might be completed, though he did say that the library was, according to the original time-frame, expected to open its doors toward the end of 2012.

The library, also known as the Castle of Light has been a lightning rod in Latvian society because it is seen as an unnecessary luxury in a time of prolonged crisis. Supporters argue that this is the perfect time to build a national library given the lower construction costs and the need for the government to stimulate the economy through public works projects.

Vidauskas also said the number of workers on the project would be downsized due to the lower-than-expected financing.