The Rail Baltica project has reached a new and significant milestone: on July 31, a construction contract was signed for one of Estonia’s most technically complex infrastructure sites – the Soodevahe traffic junction.
The €38.8 million contract was awarded to AS TREF Nord and includes the construction of a multi-level intersection where the European standard gauge (1435 mm) and the so-called Russian broad gauge (1520 mm) railways intersect, as well as the Lagedi Road viaduct. This is where the future connection between the Rail Baltica main line and the Port of Muuga will be established – a key logistical hub linking Estonian trade with the eastern Baltic Sea and the Western European transport network. Construction is scheduled to last 38 months.
“Although this is a short section, it is of strategic importance. Soodevahe will host the connection between the Rail Baltica main line and the Muuga route, enabling the direct flow of international freight from the port to the heart of Europe. This junction is of crucial significance for the Estonian economy,” said Anvar Salomets, Chairman of the Management Board of Rail Baltic Estonia.
The scope of construction includes:
- Construction of the Lagedi Road highway viaduct, 286 meters in length;
- Construction of the Rail Baltica main line embankment and infrastructure on the section from km 4+800 to km 6+600, which includes longitudinal and transverse drainage, culverts, land improvement works, landscaping, relocation of utilities, and the construction of service and access roads;
- Partial construction of the Soodevahe railway tunnel over approximately 330 meters and a preceding ramp approximately 1300 meters long.
This is a unique engineering task: the railway tunnel must be built in such a way that the existing 1520 mm broad gauge railway remains operational with minimal disruption during the works.
The Soodevahe traffic junction presents a unique engineering challenge in Estonia, requiring the construction of railways with different gauges, an underground tunnel, and a multi-span viaduct in complex geological conditions. The 1.55 km tunnel passes beneath both the railway and the highway, with one of the largest concrete volumes of any infrastructure project in Estonia. The viaduct will use a frame structure for the first time, designed to ensure smooth and safe traffic on multiple levels.
“In this three-level junction, we must cross two railway corridors of different gauges, build a tunnel underneath them, and at the same time maintain uninterrupted traffic. All of this takes place in a geologically complex area with a high groundwater level – technically, this is an extremely demanding site,” said Jaanus Taro, Chairman of the Management Board of TREF Nord.
“The project requires exceptional precision in both planning and execution, as the work must be completed within a short timeframe and in coordination with all other construction stages. Our team is fully prepared to carry out the process successfully.”
The total value of the contract is €38,836,552.22 (excluding VAT). The project is funded from two sources: part is financed by the European Union’s CEF 10 program, and part from revenue generated through CO₂ quota sales, in accordance with the cooperation agreement between Rail Baltic Estonia and the Ministry of Climate.
