Estonia Not Required to Build Four-Lane Roads

Tallinn-Tartu, Tallinn-Pärnu Highways May Not Become Fully Four-Lane

Despite Estonia's commitment to meet EU highway standards by 2030, the requirements don't mandate four lanes, the Ministry of Climate says. This raises the possibility that the key Tallinn-Tartu and Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla routes will not be fully upgraded to 2+2 lanes.

EU rules for core network highways prioritize safety features like grade-separated junctions and median barriers. Julia Bergštein from the Ministry of Climate explained that exemptions can be sought for roads with under 10,000 daily vehicles, affecting sections of both major highways.

The Uulu-Ikla stretch of the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla Highway, with only 4,000 daily vehicles, is likely to be exempt due to socioeconomic reasons. With current funding, only about 50km of the 180km route can be upgraded by 2030.

The Transport Administration's Johann Peetre noted the low priority of the Uulu-Ikla section due to low traffic and the need to finalize Rail Baltica plans first.

Avaldatud 24/04/2025