Eesti Raudtee to replace aging Tartu rail bridge
State railtrack company Eesti Raudtee is putting out to tender the construction of a new railway bridge over the Emajõgi River near Tartu, replacing the 60-year-old existing structure. The tender will also include work on straightening a section of track, which will increase train speeds towards Tartu.
Applications for tender in the procurement process run to September 29.
"The existing bridge is over 60 years old and has earned its retirement. Additionally, the existing, winding rail track does not allow for speeds about 100 km/h," said Riho Vyatkin, head of Eesti Raudtee's construction service.
"The new bridge and the straightening work will allow increased passenger train speeds of up to 135 km/h," he added.
The work is a continuation of an earlier overhauling of the Tapa-Tartu section, which included replaced rail track and superstructures.
The bridge itself, about 8 km northwest of central Tartu, will be constructed close by the existing Jänes bridge rather than on the same site (see picture), with designs already in place for a three-span arch bridge which fits architecturally with nearby Tartu, Eesti Raudtee says.
The rail section to be straightened runs for a little over 2km between the villages of Maramaa and Vorbus.
Construction itself is due to start late in 2020 pending a successful procurement, and be completed about a year later, during which services may be interrupted.
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Editor: Andrew Whyte
