Tallinn has 50 kilometres of underground pipes large enough to walk through

There are about 3,000 kilometres of pipelines beneath Tallinn, including 50 kilometres of large pipes that people can walk through, Marti Vaksmann, development manager for water and sewerage assets at Tallinna Vesi, told ERR’s Ringvaade.

Construction at Tallinn’s Hipodroomi intersection has continued throughout the summer because of infrastructure underground. Workers are currently going about four metres below ground, while some parts of Tallinn’s network reach depths of up to 30 metres.

Many of the existing pipes were installed nearly 100 years ago, when stormwater and wastewater flowed through the same sewer system. A separate stormwater pipeline is now being built beneath the intersection.

Vaksmann said the new pipeline was designed with the expectation that rainfall could become more intense over the next 50 years, reducing the need for further reconstruction.

He said much of the construction at the intersection was taking place underground, even if it was not obvious to passing drivers. In addition to the large pipelines, the area contains water, sewerage and heating pipes, as well as various cables beneath the pavements. Where possible, pipelines are moved as close as possible to the pavement, he said.

Vaksmann said he was not afraid of working inside the pipes, although walking through wastewater collectors was not particularly pleasant. “That is our job,” he said.