Estonia clears Rail Baltica segment design and launches Jüri junction redesign

The environmental impact assessment for the most complex section of the Rail Baltica corridor was approved, allowing construction to proceed between Pärnu and Kablini. The report highlighted lessons such as compensating forest habitats, adjusting routes to protect wetlands, rivers, Natura 2000 sites and first‑category species, and introducing new mitigation and compensation measures. Sustainability manager Kärt Mae noted that solving one environmental issue often created another.

Separately, Estonia’s Transport Department signed a contract with Roadplan OÜ to design a reconstruction of the Jüri traffic junction, identified as one of the country’s most accident‑prone locations. The redesign will introduce a safer, X‑shaped intersection layout, a solution rarely used in Estonia, aiming to reduce accidents and ease congestion on the Tallinn ring road and nearby ramps.