Tallinn faces autumn congestion as major roadworks continue

Several major roadworks will continue in Tallinn as the school year begins, particularly in the city centre and northern districts, ERR reported. Drivers should expect possible congestion in September and October.

The largest projects are in the Hipodroomi junction area and on Peterburi Road. At the Hipodroomi junction, traffic will switch from the current two-plus-one lane arrangement to two lanes in each direction at the end of August. Construction will continue for another year.

“Once the holidays are over and the school year has started, there will certainly be heavy congestion at the Hipodroomi junction,” Tallinn Deputy Mayor Joel Jesse said. “The work is currently being carried out in the direction out of the city, while in 2027 it will be in the direction into the city. There are still 12 months to go, so we ask people to be patient.”

The first stage of the Peterburi Road works is due to be completed by the end of November, with the current deadline set for November 18. The Pae junction is expected to reopen by the end of September, Jesse said.

Work will continue for much longer on Suur-Sõjamäe Street, which runs parallel to Peterburi Road. The deadline there is 2028, meaning traffic will remain restricted to one lane in each direction. The project is linked to the construction of the Rail Baltica passenger terminal and surrounding infrastructure.

In the city centre, Raua Street near the 21st Secondary School will reopen to traffic on September 1. Road and utility works on intersecting Kreutzwaldi Street will continue until October 10.

Roadworks on Liivalaia Street are expected to be completed in about six weeks, by mid-October.

Lauteri Street reopened to traffic in the city centre this week, allowing buses that had been diverted during the repairs to return to their usual route. The Vambola-Lembitu Street junction has also reopened.

One lane on Ahtri Street is closed because of construction in the Talsinki Quarter. Adamsoni Street is expected to close at the end of September or the beginning of October because of construction at Westholm Grammar School.

Several projects are also under way in northern Tallinn. Jesse said that construction on Sõle Street and Kolde Boulevard is 80 percent complete. Turns on Kolde Boulevard have reopened, but work will continue until the end of November. Until then, one lane towards the city centre will remain open on Sõle Street between Ehte and Nisu streets.

Work on Volta Street will continue until September 25. Jesse said the project had increased traffic on Kungla Street, adding that road closures inevitably shift traffic to nearby streets.

The final asphalt works in the Paljassaare area will take place in September.

In Mustamäe’s second residential district, road renewal works will begin in the second half of September and continue in stages into next year, Jesse said. Heating pipelines are also being replaced on Sütiste Road, with that work due to finish at the end of September.