15.06.2026
Rail Baltic Estonia, the City of Tallinn and the construction company LEONHARD WEISS OÜ have signed a 9,8 million euro contract for the construction of the Rail Baltica Ülemiste station area and the first stage of the Kantsi tunnel. The new tunnel will connect Lasnamäe and Ülemiste, creating an additional traffic route for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and cars between Peterburi tee and Suur-Sõjamäe street. The construction work of the first stage is due to be completed by 31 October 2027.
Rail Baltic Estonia Chairman of the Board Anvar Salometsa According to him, this is an important step in the development of the entire Ülemiste region.
"The Kantsi Tunnel is much more than just a passage under the railway. It is part of a larger whole that makes the Ülemiste region a more important international mobility hub in Estonia. Rail Baltica not only connects us to Europe, but also helps to better connect different regions of Estonia and Tallinn and creates the conditions for new investments and jobs," said Salomets.
Contractor LEONHARD WEISS OÜ Procurator and Director of the Engineering Construction Division Alexey Dokhin said that the agreement marks an important stage in the development of both Rail Baltica and the Estonian railway infrastructure.
“The contract for the construction of the Rail Baltica Ülemiste station area and Kantsi tunnel phase I is an important step in the development of the Estonian railway infrastructure and the implementation of the entire Rail Baltica project. We are pleased to apply our extensive experience and knowledge in this strategic project, which will improve regional connectivity, increase safety and create new opportunities in the future. LEONHARD WEISS OÜ has participated in the construction of several infrastructure sections in the Rail Baltica project in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, including the construction of the Ülemiste light rail tunnel, the expansion of the railway infrastructure of Riga Central Station and the construction of the Šveicarija–Žeimiai railway section,” said Dohin.
For cars, pedestrians, cyclists
Currently, the Ülemiste area is mainly accessible via Tartu Highway, and the next option to cross the railway is more than three kilometers away on Smuuli Road. The completion of the Kantsi Tunnel will create a new connection between Peterburi Road and Suur-Sõjamäe Street and improve access for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and car traffic. Currently, the railway can only be crossed at the same location via a pedestrian bridge.
Chairman of the Board of AS Mainor Kadi PärnitsAccording to the company, this is a project that was born as a result of years of collaboration.
"We are very pleased that the long phase of negotiations, design and now construction procurement for the Kantsi Tunnel has come to an end and Tallinn will have a new way to travel from Peterburi Highway to Suur-Sõjamäe Street in the future. This will make pedestrian, public transport and car traffic smoother and is a very important solution for alleviating congestion at the Tartu Highway, Järvevana Road and Suur-Sõjamäe intersection. It will also give road users a greater sense of security in the event of traffic disruptions," said Pärnits.
According to him, Mainor has been an active partner in the preparation of the project for years. “AS Mainor has been the leader and contributor to the negotiations over the years, and we are proud that the cooperation between the Ministry of Climate, Rail Baltic Estonia, the City of Tallinn, Estonian Railways and other parties has borne fruit and the construction of the first phase of the Kantsi Tunnel has begun. Mainor has also signed a goodwill agreement with the City of Tallinn to contribute to the second and third construction phases of the tunnel.”
The contract signed between Rail Baltic Estonia and LEONHARD WEISS OÜ is worth 9,826,169 euros and will include the construction of a new passenger platform with access to the Kantsi tunnel and the foundation of the Rail Baltica European gauge railway infrastructure in the Ülemiste station area, including embankments, drainage systems and necessary communications. The completion date for the first stage of work is 31 October 2027.
Ülemiste is growing into the new center of Tallinn
The construction of the Kantsi tunnel is one part of a much bigger picture. Rail Baltic Estonia, Tallinn Airport and Mainor will invest a total of nearly 500 million euros in the Ülemiste area in the coming years. The aim is to transform the former industrial area on the edge of Lasnamäe into a modern city center that complements the historic Old Town and the Telliskivi Creative City.
Ülemiste City is already the third largest economic city in Estonia based on labor taxes; by 2030, 25,000 people should live, study, and work in the city.
The Linda Terminal, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, will be completed in 2028. Together with the airport, the Ülemiste campus, and the planned Europa Park, the area should become an attractive entry point to Estonia for international companies and investors.
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