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Tallinn Old City Harbour tramway to be completed by February 2025

Tallinn Old City Harbour tramway to be completed by February 2025

Today, the City of Tallinn signed a design and construction contract with Merko Ehitus Eesti AS and KMG Inseneriehituse AS for the construction of a tram line connecting Tallinn Old City Harbour and the future Ülemiste Terminal. The cost of the contract is €36.5 million plus VAT, and the construction works are due in February 2025.

The new tramway will be built over a stretch of approximately 2.5 km, starting at the intersection of Kivisilla and Gonsiori streets and extending to Põhja puiestee. Merko Ehitus Eesti AS is the lead partner of the joint bidders.

According to Tallinn Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart, the new tramway will connect the most important gateways to both Tallinn and entire Estonia from the sea and air as well as by rail and road. "The new tramway will create fast and convenient connections for all passengers and visitors to Tallinn, regardless of the mode of transport," Kõlvart said. "But this project is also one stage in a larger vision for the development of the Old City Harbour area and the city as a whole. This is how the area is becoming an innovative urban centre with a well thought-out concept and attractive architecture, just like the future Ülemiste Rail Baltic terminal and the entire Ülemiste area that will be on the way of the new tram line."

"For the builder, this is a complex and large-scale project. The seemingly simple installation of the tram rails requires the rebuilding of a large number of underground communication routes and, finally, the creation of a new street space around the tram line. In cooperation with our good partner KMG Inseneriehituse AS, we are proud to contribute to the development of Tallinn’s urban space and transport," said Ivo Volkov, Chairman of the Management Board of Merko Ehitus Eesti AS.

The construction of the new tram line involves a large number of reconstruction works. The existing tramway on Tartu maantee will be complemented with a left turn into Gonsiori street. The line will continue via Laikmaa, Hobujaama and Ahtri streets to the harbour area. Via Laeva, Kuunari and Kai streets, the route will pass through the front of the Sadama A terminal, and via Logi and Rumbi streets it will pass under the Linnahall. The tramway joins the tramway from Mere and Põhja puiestee to the tramway towards Kopli.
 
The contract signed today covers both the design and construction of the new tramway. Preparatory design work has started, with construction in the urban space expected to start in March-April 2023. Work on the tramway and its contact network is scheduled to be substantially completed by the end of June 2024, after which the construction of pavements along the tramway route will continue.

On 21 April this year, the Tallinn Urban Environment and Public Works Department announced an international public procurement for the design and construction of a tramway linking Old City Harbour and the planned Rail Baltic Ülemiste passenger terminal. The deadline for submission of tenders was 1 July 2022. The joint tender submitted by AS Merko Ehitus Eesti and KMG Inseneriehituse AS, both part of the AS Merko Ehitus group, was declared successful. Including VAT and owner supervision, the cost of the tramway is €44.9 million.

€26 million in funding for the project will be covered from the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). A grant agreement will be concluded between the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and the City of Tallinn to use the grant.
 
The construction contract was signed today by Janne Teder, Head of Unit at the Tallinn Urban Environment and Public Works Department, acting as Head of Department, Kaido Padar, Chairman of the Board of Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS, as co-financier, Ivo Volkov, Chairman of the Board of AS Merko Ehitus Eesti, representing the contractor, and Ilmar Link, Chairman of the Board of TPJ Inseneribüroo OÜ, representing the owner supervision.


Photos: Mats Õun

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