The Transport Board together with the defense forces will collapse the Kanama viaduct on the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla road on Tuesday.
Explosive works are carried out as part of the ambush, which do not pose a danger to the surrounding residents. GRK Eesti, the operator of the reconstruction works, plans to restore traffic on the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla highway by the next morning.
The purpose of ambushing the viaduct is to gather knowledge and refine skills in conducting delay operations at viaducts as tactical strongholds, one part of which is the construction of such barriers for military defense purposes. In addition, demolition by blasting helps to reduce the length of the demolition work and the duration of the noise caused by the demolition work, as well as the general disturbance to ordinary citizens.
During the demolition work, road users must consider the short-term complete stoppage of traffic. The downtime is approximately two to three minutes.
“The Kanama viaduct is decades old and depreciated, and its current carrying capacity of 80 tons does not allow for the transportation of defense equipment or special cargo, causing problems for many transporters because detours are long and inconvenient. After the reconstruction of the viaduct, when the carrying capacity is 360 tons, the situation will be much more comfortable for all users,” explained Olari Valter, a bridge analyst at the Transport Board. “Since the Kanama viaduct is a MilMob object, we are very happy that we will involve the Defense Forces in the process even before the start of the construction work, which will thereby have the opportunity to gather additional knowledge and experience for the purpose of preventing the viaduct from being ambushed.”
“One of the tasks of the pioneer battalion of the Defense Forces is to stop or hinder the advance of the enemy and to ensure the movement possibilities of its own units. The demolition of the Kanama viaduct once again gives us a very good opportunity to practice demolition of a real object and to test the unit’s professionalism in order to be even better prepared to perform wartime tasks, while supporting the Transport Authority in improving the infrastructure at a large and important traffic junction,” said Captain Urmas Tonto of the Defense Force 1, who carried out the blasting work. from the pioneer battalion of the infantry brigade.
Together with the pioneer battalion, the British pioneers of the NATO battle group located in Tapa and the Defense League’s Western Army will take part in the preparations for the blasting of the Kanama viaduct.
Lauri Kanarbik, the project manager of GRK Eesti AS, which is carrying out the reconstruction works of the traffic junction, noted that the demolition of the old viaduct gives a noticeable time advantage compared to the usual demolition, and thus disrupts the traffic to a minimum. “This is the second such demolition experience for GRK. During the demolition, we will temporarily close all traffic on this section of the Tallinn-Pärnu highway, and that is why we also did extensive preparatory work in advance to choose a time for demolition when, according to studies, the traffic frequency is the lowest,” Kanarbik said. “The demolition will take place late in the evening, and it is planned to clear one direction of the road from the demolition debris already in the morning. After that, we will restore traffic there as a road with 2+1 lanes.”
The new viaduct will be built after the old viaduct is demolished and cleaned. The works are performed by GRK Eesti AS. Owner supervision is carried out by OÜ Toomtsentrum and OÜ Teehoiu Partners.
The cost of the works is 13.8 million euros, plus VAT. The investment is co-financed by the European Cohesion Fund (CEF) in the amount of 5.05 million euros through the military mobility project EstMilMob, which aims to improve the transport links to the Tapa settlement over the next three years.
The viaduct will be closed to traffic from November 4 until the end of May next year, and road users must take into account additional time.
The newly renovated viaduct is planned to open at the beginning of summer, the completion date of all works is the end of September 2025.
2024-11-12 14:09:00
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**Interview with Lauri Kanarbik, Project Manager for the Kanama Viaduct Reconstruction**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Lauri. Can you provide us with an overview of what’s happening with the Kanama viaduct?
**Lauri Kanarbik:** Absolutely. The Transport Board, in collaboration with our defense forces, is planning to demolish the Kanama viaduct this Tuesday. The demolition will involve controlled explosives to ensure safety and efficiency. The aim is to gather insights and refine skills in tactical operations regarding infrastructure like viaducts, particularly for military purposes.
**Editor:** That sounds quite significant. Can you explain why this demolition is necessary?
**Lauri Kanarbik:** The Kanama viaduct is over 40 years old and has a limited carrying capacity of just 80 tons. This restriction prevents the transportation of heavy defense equipment and complicates logistics for transporters who often have to navigate lengthy detours. Once reconstructed, the viaduct’s capacity will increase to 360 tons, which will greatly enhance traffic flow and military logistics.
**Editor:** What precautions are being taken to ensure that the demolition doesn’t affect local residents?
**Lauri Kanarbik:** We are committed to minimizing disruption. The explosive works are designed to be safe for surrounding residents, and we anticipate only a brief stoppage of traffic for about two to three minutes during the demolition. Moreover, our contractor, GRK Eesti, is experienced in these types of operations and will manage the situation closely to keep the community informed.
**Editor:** Can you share a bit about the involvement of military forces in this project?
**Lauri Kanarbik:** Certainly! The Defense Forces are actively participating in this operation to sharpen their skills in demolition work, which is crucial for military readiness. Captain Urmas Tonto from the pioneer battalion mentioned that demolishing the viaduct provides a valuable opportunity to enhance the unit’s capabilities in real-world scenarios. Additionally, we have British pioneers from a NATO battlegroup and the Defense League assisting us, which emphasizes the collaborative nature of this effort.
**Editor:** It sounds like a significant step forward not only for infrastructure but also for military preparedness. What are the next steps after the demolition?
**Lauri Kanarbik:** Following the demolition, we will immediately begin the reconstruction of the Kanama viaduct. Our goal is to restore full traffic by the next morning, ensuring that the disruption is as minimal as possible. The whole project is designed to enhance our infrastructure while ensuring the Defense Forces are equipped to respond effectively in any scenario.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Lauri. We look forward to hearing more about the progress on this important project.
**Lauri Kanarbik:** Thank you for having me! We appreciate your support in keeping the community informed.
