Tallinn's Main Street Project Not Happening in the Near Future

TALLINN – Tallinn's coalition agreement contains only one vaguely worded sentence regarding the development of the Main Street project, and with their term ending, city leaders admit that its completion is not expected in the coming years, reports Postimees.

"We will proceed with the design of Tallinn's Main Street, ensuring that the flow of car traffic does not worsen," the Tallinn coalition agreement states. Regarding this point, those in power could say, in the style of the Center Party: "Done!" After all, some progress has been made, and traffic has not worsened.

According to Social Democrat Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski, preparations for the Main Street are so far advanced that issues between city departments, such as transport capacity, have been resolved. "The departments have approved the design specifications, and the procurement for the design is essentially ready to be announced," Ossinovski confirmed.

"The next city government will decide when construction could begin," Ossinovski said. "I can state my position: I believe it is unthinkable to start construction on the Main Street before Liivalaia Street is completed. Considering the traffic in the city center, including public transport arrangements, closing both Liivalaia Street and Pärnu Road at the same time is, in my opinion, inconceivable. However, it is possible to schedule the two construction projects consecutively. Once the work on Liivalaia Street is finished, preparations for the Main Street will be advanced enough for it to begin."

Deputy Mayor Karl Sander Kase of the Isamaa party recalled that the Main Street has been under discussion for at least ten years, adding that the only certainty, in his view, is that it will not be built in the near future.