11.09.2024
Rail Baltic Estonia has today signed a contract for the construction of the most unique section of the route, where the rails run partially in a depression up to 10 meters below the ground. The construction of the 9,2 km long main route section will cost 70,8 million euros and will be built by OÜ Verston and OÜ Järelpinge Inseneribüroo, who won the tender through a joint bid. The section is located in Rae rural municipality between Soodevahe and Kangru.
“The Rail Baltica project is not just a transport infrastructure – it is Estonia’s future connection to Europe,” said Anvar Salomets, Chairman of the Board of Rail Baltic Estonia. “Our goal is to provide a modern, safe and environmentally friendly railway that serves both people and the environment. Today we have taken another 9,2 kilometers closer to achieving this goal.”
He added that the goal is to reach the construction and contracts for at least a third, or 70 kilometers, of the 213-kilometer-long Estonian main route of Rail Baltica this year - to date, 65 kilometers of the Estonian part of the main route of Rail Baltica has been covered by contracts or is already under construction.
The section is one of the most unique in terms of construction – it is the only part of the route where the train runs in a depression, for a full five kilometres. The depression resembles the Lasnamäe Canal, where natural limestone walls rise on both sides of the road. The railway runs in a depression, the width of which is between 55 m and 75 m, and the deepest point from the ground to the tracks is 10 metres.
For Verston, the contract signed today is the fourth contract for a section of the Rail Baltica main route. According to the company's CEO Veiko Veskimäe, the completion of Rail Baltica requires very close cooperation between all parties. "As a contractor, we are committed to finding solutions, because in a construction project of such a large scale, it is clear that things will never go easily. To achieve a common goal, we need the intelligence, empathy and sincere desire of all parties to find the best solutions even in the most difficult situations," emphasized Veskimäe. "It is important that when the project is completed, both people and nature are satisfied, and solutions are created that take into account the needs of both."
The Rail Baltica railway will pass under Põrguvälja road, for which Verston is already building utility systems and a viaduct there, which will be completed in November. The contract to be signed will include the construction of the Soodevahe station embankment, the Kurna oja railway bridge, the Uuesalu viaduct, and the Rae green bridge.
"Rail Baltica is an important step towards greener transport, offering a fast and environmentally friendly connection. The Rae Green Bridge located over the depression creates a safe passage for wildlife, helping to preserve the natural environment," noted Salomets.
The Tallinn-Tartu highway viaduct has already been completed on the Soodevahe-Kangru main route section, and in addition to the Põrguvälja viaduct, the adjacent viaduct for utility networks will also be completed in November. The Vaskjala-Ülemiste Canal railway bridge and the Rae highway viaduct will also be completed by the end of the year.
The Assaku stop, which is very important for Rae rural municipality, will remain on the route. The rural municipality is planning a transport hub for Assaku, where county buses will stop in addition to trains. As part of the procurement, its waiting platforms in the pit up to the top surface of the platform and the support structures for the crossings will be completed. The remaining part of the stop will be built later as part of another procurement, when the railway superstructure works will also take place.
The duration of the construction contract is 40 months, meaning the Soodevahe-Kangru main line section must be completed in January 2028.
The construction contract is financed from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Estonian state budget.
The Soodevahe-Kangru section agreement in a nutshell:
· Contract cost: 70,8 million euros
· Construction duration: 40 months
· Completion date: January 2028
· Financing: Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Estonian state budget
More photos from the signing of the contract can be found here. FROM HERE.
How did this story make you feel?
