Rail Baltic Estonia has launched a procurement for the first phase of the Kantsi Street tunnel in the Ülemiste area. As part of the works, a concrete structure will be constructed beneath the future high-speed railway alignment, enabling the development of an underpass connecting towards Ülemiste City at a later stage. The Kantsi tunnel will create an additional link between Lasnamäe and Ülemiste for pedestrians, cyclists, cars and public transport. The future passage will be located where a pedestrian bridge currently crosses the railway along Kantsi Street.

“Constructing the tunnel opening together with the Rail Baltica substructure is the most technically and economically sensible solution,” said Martin Kaljumäe, Lead Project Manager for Passenger and Service Infrastructure at Rail Baltic Estonia. “By the end of next year, Rail Baltic Estonia will build the concrete tunnel shell within the railway embankment. The tunnel itself will later be completed by the City of Tallinn.”

At present, Ülemiste is essentially connected to the rest of Tallinn only through the passage along Tartu maantee. The next opportunity to cross the railway is located approximately 3.5 kilometres away on Smuuli Road. At the same time, around 15,000 people already work in the Ülemiste district today, and the area is currently the fastest-growing part of Tallinn, expected to evolve into the city’s new urban centre in the coming years.

Rail Baltic Estonia plans to sign the construction contract for the new tunnel in spring. Works will begin immediately after the contract is signed, with completion scheduled no later than 31 October 2027. The tunnel will be delivered in cooperation between Rail Baltic Estonia, Mainor Ülemiste and the City of Tallinn.

More information about the Kantsi Street tunnel procurement can be found here.