22.02.2024
Rail Baltic Estonia has today signed the first construction contracts for the construction of the main railway line in Rapla county. The joint bidders Verston OÜ and Järelpinge Inseneribüroo OÜ will build the sections of the Rail Baltica main line in Kohila and Rapla rural municipalities. The total value of the two contracts is 107 million euros.
"While we signed the first construction contract for the Rail Baltica main route in Harju County at the beginning of the year, we are now also reaching Rapla County with construction. The construction contracts signed today in Kohila rural municipality for the construction of more than 16 kilometers of the main route are already a considerable volume and this clearly shows the growing maturity of our railway development. It is also gratifying that our construction companies continue to have a great interest in participating in Rail Baltica procurements and the competition is fierce. This year, we will reach contracts or even actual construction activities on approximately 50 kilometers of the Rail Baltica main route," noted the Chairman of the Board of Rail Baltic Estonia Anvar SalometsAccording to him, cooperation with local governments has also been effective and constructive so far: "This is of critical importance in the implementation of the Rail Baltica railway," said Salomets.
Verston's Chairman of the Board Veiko Veskimäe According to him, the Rail Baltica project is of utmost importance for Estonian people, businesses and services, as it creates a fast and safe connection to Europe. “Considering the current geopolitical situation, it is clear that every connection with Europe and its partners is vitally important for us. At the same time, it is precisely infrastructure investments that boost the economy in difficult times and create competitiveness for the future. Modern infrastructure that takes into account the needs of people and the environment, and good connections are strategically important for our small country, as they ensure development, competitiveness and security. At Verston, we highly value these values and therefore we also put our best knowledge and competence into the completion of projects,” said Veskimäe.
The construction works of the first stage of the railway infrastructure of the Rapla County main line will start from the border of Harju and Rapla counties and end in the village of Loone in Kohila rural municipality. The entire construction section is 9,4 km long. The average width of the main line embankment is 15 meters. Within the framework of the contract, in addition to the main line embankment, seven larger structures will be built (1 ecoduct, 5 road viaducts and 1 light rail tunnel). During the construction of the main line embankment, readiness will also be created for the construction of the local stop of the RB Kohila.
The deforestation work required for the construction of the main railway route has largely been completed on this section, with only work related to the construction of the Kohila traffic junction remaining. In cooperation with the Land Board, nearly 95% of the land required for this section has been acquired, and only sections of the immovable property required for the construction of the Kohila traffic junction are being acquired.
The contractual cost of the construction works is approximately 60 million euros.
During the construction of the second stage of the Rapla County main railway infrastructure, a 7,1 km railway embankment with the necessary drainage, land improvement systems, two ecoducts, one road viaduct and two railway viaducts, and nearly 5 km of noise barriers will be constructed. The scope of the second stage of construction also includes a 224-meter-long railway bridge, unique in Estonia.
On the Loone-Hagudi section, the future Rail Baltica railway route intersects with the existing Edelaraudtee corridor. The construction of the Pureva railway viaduct will redirect the Edelaraudtee over the Rail Baltica route. A total of six major structures (including Edelaraudtee facilities) will be built as part of this section: Keila River railway bridge with a length of 224 meters; Mälivere road viaduct with a length of 111,76 meters; Pureva railway viaduct with a length of 107,03 meters (Edelaraudtee); Tamme railway viaduct with a length of 16,40 meters; Röa ecoduct with a length of 115,45 meters (RB railway infrastructure); Röa ecoduct with a length of 113,50 meters (Edelaraudtee).
In addition, approximately 10 kilometers of various maintenance and access roads will be built.
The contractual cost of the construction works is approximately 47 million euros.
The construction contracts are financed to the extent of 85% from the Connecting Europe Facility, and the construction works, which will start this summer, should be completed on the sections specified in the contract by autumn 2027.
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