During the complete reconstruction of the Kanama overpass on the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla highway and its surrounding area, traffic over the overpass will be closed. Traffic on the Tallinn Ring Road will be directed via temporary signalized intersections on the Tallinn-Pärnu highway. A speed limit of 50 km/h will be enforced throughout the construction zone.

The temporary traffic arrangements will remain in place until May of next year. Additional restrictions, including a full traffic stop, will occur briefly during the overpass demolition scheduled for mid-November.

Viktor Kisseljov, head of the Transport Administration's northern department, advises drivers to avoid the area or use alternative routes during the first week of construction.

To bypass the Kanama junction, the Transport Administration recommends a detour via Rapla.

"It's crucial to monitor the traffic situation and, most importantly, allow extra time if passing through the Kanama junction is unavoidable," Kisseljov stated. "Traffic congestion is inevitable with major roadwork, especially during peak hours. However, the Tallinn-Pärnu highway will remain a two-plus-two lane road for travel between Tallinn and Pärnu, in both directions."

Kisseljov explained that drivers heading from Tallinn toward Pärnu, Haapsalu or Riga should anticipate temporary traffic lights and additional travel time.

Drivers traveling from Keila or Paldiski toward Tartu will also need to navigate the revised traffic arrangements. "For those coming from Keila, they will initially need to use a ramp that leads toward Pärnu, then cross onto a temporary road widening over the median and from there, guided by temporary traffic lights, they'll proceed toward Tartu," Kisseljov explained.

Those heading from Keila to Tallinn will need to use the Pärnu-bound ramp and make a U-turn at Rahula, he added.

Kisseljov noted that the old overpass had become worn out, unsafe and no longer met modern standards. Additionally, it couldn't accommodate large military transports between the Estonian Defense Forces' Tapa and Paldiski bases, nor could it support heavy freight traffic connected to the Port of Paldiski.

"The Defense Forces can't use the overpass for moving equipment and large freight loads also can't use it," he said. "We need to increase its load-bearing capacity, which calls for a new, modern structure. This will be in place by early summer next year."

The newly constructed overpass is expected to open by early summer, with all work scheduled for completion by the end of September 2025.

The project costs €13.8 million, plus VAT. The investment is co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) with €5.05 million through the EstMilMob military mobility project, aimed at improving transport links to the Tapa base over the next three years.

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