Starting Monday, June 10, construction will begin on the pedestrian tunnel at the intersection of Paldiski maantee and Tehnika Street. This project will result in temporary changes to traffic arrangements and, in later stages, a temporary disruption of train services around the Balti jaam train station.

The pedestrian tunnel at the intersection of Paldiski maantee and Tehnika Street will provide a safe passage through the railway embankment, better connecting the districts of Kristiine, Kesklinn, and Põhja-Tallinn. This new solution will direct pedestrians from the narrow sidewalk under the existing railway viaduct to a new illuminated tunnel, significantly improving safety.

"People will be able to use the safe and pleasant Paldiski maantee tunnel for walking, and cyclists will soon have a new bike path there as well. The road will maintain very good traffic flow for cars and public transport, reducing traffic jams for everyone," said Deputy Mayor Pärtel-Peeter Pere.

In the first phase of the work, the trolley contact network mast and traffic light control box will be relocated, and preparations will be made for the tunnel installation and pipe tunnel assembly next to the railway. During this phase, the right-hand lane of Paldiski maantee towards the city will be closed up to the viaduct. Pedestrian movement will be organized on the closed lane. Public transport will continue to operate in both directions. The tunnel will also accommodate bicycle traffic until a dedicated bike path is built along Paldiski maantee.

Due to the construction of the pedestrian tunnel, train services around the Baltic jaam station will be temporarily halted for one week, from July 15 to July 21. Westbound trains (Keila, Kloogaranna, Paldiski, Turba) will operate up to Lilleküla station, and eastbound and southeast-bound trains (Aegviidu, Narva, Rakvere, Tartu, Valga, Koidula) will temporarily start and end at Kitseküla. Southwest-bound trains (Rapla, Türi, Viljandi) will run up to Tallinn-Väike during this period.

"Initially, it was planned that train services would not be affected by the construction work. However, the construction method had to be changed due to the Tallinn Urban Planning Department’s request to preserve a historical military bunker near the Paldiski maantee railway viaduct. As the bunker obstructs the installation work, the construction method must now be open, requiring the removal of the embankment under the railway, which necessitates halting train traffic near the Balti jaam station," explained Pere.

Elron’s schedule will be published on their website www.elron.ee in early July.

During the railway interruption, the Tallinn Transport Department will provide free public transport on all lines passing through Ülemiste, Tallinn-Väike, and Tondi railway stations. The free travel period will apply to tram number 4, buses number 7, 12, 13, 15, 45, 49, 54, 64, 65 towards Ülemiste, and buses number 5, 14, 16, 18, 18A, 20, 20A, 28, 32, and 36 towards Tondi and Tallinn-Väike.

As part of the landscaping work, a grass cover will be installed, and ten Thunberg barberry shrubs will be planted from Ristiku Street. Existing trees will be protected during construction with upright boards secured around their trunks.

The public introduction of the pedestrian tunnel project took place on May 22, and a recording of the meeting is available on the project’s website at tallinn.ee/paldiskitehnikatunnel.

The current plan is to open the tunnel to pedestrian traffic this fall, although landscaping and minor construction work will continue until the contract’s final deadline in February 2025.