Nordecon AS and the Estonian Road Administration entered into an agreement today for construction work on Section 4 of the western bypass around the city of Tartu. This will see the removal of the Võru Street railway crossing and the existing intersection with the Tartu ring road. The construction work will cost a total of 14.7 million euros before VAT.
“Now that work on the Variku overpass has finished, this section we’re taking on is the next big one in the construction plans for the Tartu bypass,” explained Avo Ambur, a member of the management board of Nordecon AS. “It should be followed by work on the other sections of the western bypass, and on the north and east sides of the ring road. I’m really pleased that our offer, experience and know-how came out on top in this tender, which actually involves some pretty complicated work. I’m sure the locals who’ll be using the roads and overpasses we’re building will be happy with the choice and with the work we do – and not only them, but everyone using the highway between Tallinn and Tartu, which is the busiest road in the country!”
Ambur says that once work on the section is completed, the dangerous railway crossing on Võru Street and same-level intersection with the Tartu ring road will be things of the past. While the new overpass is being built, railway traffic will be temporarily rerouted onto an adjacent track which is currently under construction. “Drivers will be affected a little as well of course by the work, but not to any great extent,” he said. “Since the new road will follow a slightly different line to the one that’s there now, all the structures and roadways we need to build should be able to put together without significantly impacting traffic flow.”
Work on Section 4 will involve the construction of a four-lane (2+2) road measuring 2050 metres. The total length of the main and side roads and access ramps being built on the site is almost 5900 metres, while more than 10 km of gravel roads will undergo dust-free resurfacing. Railway and roadway overpasses will also be constructed, measuring 51 and 41 metres respectively. New networks of waste water, drainage, sewerage and water pipes will also be installed, as will street lighting. Existing power lines will be reconstructed to meet the new conditions. A 275-metre sound barrier is also to be erected.
The total length of the western part of the Tartu bypass is 12 km and comprises the stretch of the Tallinn-Tartu-Võru-Luhamaa road between Kandiküla and Uhti. Construction of the bypass has been divided into six stages. The result will be a four-lane, first class highway along the extent of the western bypass which will serve both local traffic and traffic in transit. All intersections with other roads and the railway are planned to be multi-level.
Work on Section 4 of the bypass is projected to be launched by Nordecon in spring 2012 and last 21 months.
