Highways in Estonia
Highways in Estonia are the main transport network in Estonia. The Estonian national classification includes several classes of highways:[1]
- Main road (põhimaantee) – highway, that connects the capital with other large cities, connects large cities and the capital with major ports, railway points and border crossings.
- Basic road (tugimaantee) – highway, that connects towns with other towns and main routes.
- Secondary road (kõrvalmaantee) – highway, that connects towns with boroughs, connects boroughs and villages and all of the previous with main- and support routes.
Other than these, the national road classification includes the following categories which may also be referred to as highways in a general sense, with decreasing order of priority (and applicability of the term highway):
- Ice road (jäätee) - temporary road made on a frozen body of water for vehicles and pedestrians
- Connecting road (ühendustee) – constructed for traffic flow on the intersections/interchanges of highways
- Other (muu) – other roads in the list of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
Main and support routes are designated with 1-2 digit numbers. Side routes are designated with 4-5 digit numbers, where the first two digits is a county code (11-25 for 15 counties), followed usually by three (rarely two, used for leftover spurs) digits. While there is no official prefix for road numbers in Estonia, T (tee) is used widely unofficially.
In addition to state highways, there are 23 920 km of local roads and around 18 398 km of private and forest roads. The total Estonian road network is estimated to be almost 59 thousand km.[2]
Classification of highways in Estonia
The technical classification of highways is as follows:[3]
- Motorway (kiirtee) – Paved highway designated for appropriately fast-traveling motor vehicles, that does not service areas directly adjacent to it. A motorway has at least two lanes in each traveling direction, separated physically. The road must intersect with railways or other roads on separate levels. The road is entered and exited via acceleration and deceleration lanes. A road must confine to the motorway standards, when the expected AADT is 30,000.
- I class – Paved highway with at least two lanes in each traveling direction, that intersects with railways or other roads on separate levels. The road is entered and exited via acceleration and deceleration lanes. A road must confine to the I class highway standards, when the expected AADT is 14,500.
- II class – Paved highway, which may intersect with other roads at-grade. A road must confine to the II class highway standards, when the expected AADT is 6,000.
- III class – Paved highway, which may intersect with other roads at-grade. A road must confine to the III class highway standards, when the expected AADT is 3,000.
- IV class – Paved or unpaved highway, which may intersect with other roads at-grade. A road must confine to the IV class highway standards, when the expected AADT is 500.
- V class – Paved or unpaved highway. A road must confine to the V class highway standards, when the expected AADT is 500.
- VI class – Paved or unpaved highway. A road must confine to the VI class highway standards, when the expected AADT is 50.
Main routes
The backbone of the Estonian national route system, national main routes (põhimaanteed) make up a network of 1,602 kilometres of road, amounting to 10% of the total road network. The traffic numbers however make up nearly 50% of the Estonian road network's traffic volumes. The highest AADT's are around Tallinn, on the T1 between Loo and Maardu, on the T2 between Tallinn and Jüri, and on the T4 between Laagri and Kanama (the highest AADT on Estonian national routes at 31,000). A main route is defined as a highway, that connects the capital with other large cities, connects large cities and the capital with major ports, railway points and border crossings. Currently there are 12 separate main routes. The main routes are marked with 1–2 white digits on a red shield. The speed limits on Estonian main routes are 110 or 120 on 2+2 sections and 90 on regular roads (on newer sections of road, these are adjusted according to conditions by electronic speed limit signs).
The main routes are the only roads with I class highways. The total amount is 186.6 kilometres, found on the T1, T2, T4 and T11. This number will enlarge significantly with further upgrades of the T11 and the T2 between Kose and Mäo to I class highway. There are currently no motorways in Estonia, however 24.4 kilometres of the T2 is restricted-access I class highway. Ten main routes are a part of TEN-T, six routes are a part of the International E-road network. The routes E263, E67, E20, E264 and E265 run through Estonia.
The highways are maintained by the Estonian Road Administration outside city limits. Inside cities and towns, the roads are maintained by the city government. The first stationary speed cameras in Estonia were placed on route T2. Currently there are 67 stationary speed cameras on the main routes.
List of main routes
| Route | County | Length | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 T1
|
Harjumaa, Lääne-Virumaa, Ida-Virumaa | 212.6 km (132.1 mi) | The T1 starts at Viru Väljak in Tallinn. The road passes through Tallinn, intersects with the National Road 11 at Väo and proceeds east towards Rakvere. The route then continues east towards Jõhvi, Sillamäe and Narva, finally terminating in Narva at the Russian border. | I class highway for 87.3 kilometres. |
 T2
|
Harjumaa, Järvamaa, Jõgevamaa, Tartumaa, Põlvamaa, Võrumaa | 287.8 km (178.8 mi) | The T2 starts at Ülemiste in Tallinn. The road passes through Tallinn and proceeds south-east towards Jüri. Here the road intersects with the National Road 11. The route then continues southeast towards Tartu, Võru and Luhamaa, finally terminating in Luhamaa at the National Road 7. | I class highway for 67.6 kilometres. Construction works ongoing to reroute road between Võõbu and Mäo as I class highway. Several 2+1 sections also exist. Longest highway in Estonia. |
 T3
|
Ida-Virumaa, Jõgevamaa, Tartumaa, Valgamaa | 219.6 km (136.5 mi) | The T3 starts at the National Road 1 interchange in Jõhvi. The road passes through Jõhvi and proceeds southwest through Ahtme and towards Tartu. After Tartu the route continues southwest towards Elva and Valga, finally terminating in Valga at the Latvian border. | |
 T4
|
Harjumaa, Raplamaa, Pärnumaa | 192.3 km (119.5 mi) | The T4 starts at Viru Väljak in Tallinn. The road passes through Tallinn and proceeds south towards Pärnu. The route then continues south towards Märjamaa and Pärnu, finally terminating in Ikla at the Latvian border. | I class highway for 14.1 kilometres. Several 2+1 sections already exist (total 17.4 km) and several more planned. |
 T5
|
Lääne-Virumaa, Järvamaa, Pärnumaa | 184.6 km (114.7 mi) | The T5 starts at the intersection with the National Road 4 in Pärnu. The road proceeds northeast towards Paide. After intersecting with the National Road 2 at Mäo, the route then continues northeast towards Tapa and Rakvere, finally terminating in Sõmeru at the National Road 1. | |
 T6
|
Pärnumaa, Viljandimaa, Valgamaa | 124.8 km (77.5 mi) | The T6 starts at the Latvian border in Valga. The road passes through Valga and proceeds northwest towards Tõrva. After Tõrva the route continues northwest towards Uulu finally terminating in Uulu at the National Road 4. | |
 T7
|
Võrumaa | 22 km (14 mi) | The T7 starts at Misso at the Latvian border. The road shortly after passes through Misso and proceeds east towards Luhamaa. The route then intersects with the National Road 2 and continues east towards the Russian border. | Shortest highway in Estonia. |
 T8
|
Harjumaa | 47.2 km (29.3 mi) | The T8 starts at Tallinn. The road passes through Tallinn, intersects with the National Road 11 at Keila and proceeds west towards Paldiski. The route then terminates at Paldiski. | |
 T9
|
Harjumaa, Läänemaa | 80.5 km (50.0 mi) | The T9 starts at the interchange with the National Road 4 in Ääsmäe. The road proceeds southwest towards Haapsalu. After intersecting with the National Road 10 in Risti, the route continues west towards Haapsalu, finally terminating in Rohuküla port. | |
 T10
|
Harjumaa, Läänemaa, Saaremaa | 143.7 km (89.3 mi) | The T10 starts at the intersection with the National Road 9 at Risti. The road proceeds southwest towards Virtsu port. The route includes a ferry crossing to Muhu island (Kuivastu port), shortly after crossing to Saaremaa via the Väinatamm causeway, after which it continues southwest towards Kuressaare, terminating there. | Only national route to include a ferry crossing. |
 T11
|
Harjumaa | 38.1 km (23.7 mi) | The T11 is Tallinn's ring road. The T11 starts at the intersection with the National Road 1 at Väo. The road passes by Jüri, intersecting with the National Road 2, by Luige, intersecting with the 15, by Saue, intersecting with the National Road 4 and finally terminating at Keila, when intersecting with the National Road 8. | I class highway for 23.9 kilometres. The entire route will be upgraded to I class highway, construction works ongoing at Väo and Tammemäe. |
 T92
|
Tartumaa, Viljandimaa, Pärnumaa | 122.8 km (76.3 mi) | The T92 starts at the intersection with the National Road 2 at Tartu. The road proceeds west towards Viljandi. After going through Viljandi, the route then continues west towards Kilingi-Nõmme, finally terminating in Väljaküla at the National Road 6. |
Support routes
Support routes (tugimaanteed) are the second highest classification in the Estonian national route system. They make up a network of 2,405 kilometres of road, amounting to 15% of the total road network. A support route is defined as a highway, that connects towns with other towns and main routes. Currently there are 77 separate support routes. The support routes are marked with 2 black digits on a yellow shield. The support roads have no special prefix, as all Estonian roads have the prefix T.
List of support routes
| Route | Control city | Intermediate point(s) | Control city | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 T12
|
Kose ( T2) |
Jägala ( T13)
|
36.1 km (22.4 mi) | |
| T13
|
Jägala ( T1) |
Käravete ( T5)
|
52.7 km (32.7 mi) | |
 T14
|
Kose ( T2) |
Purila ( T15)
|
39.1 km (24.3 mi) | |
| T15
|
Tallinn ( T4) |
Rapla | Türi ( T5)
|
97.2 km (60.4 mi) |
 T17
|
Keila ( T8) |
Haapsalu ( T9)
|
68.8 km (42.8 mi) | |
 T18
|
Niitvälja ( T8) |
Kulna ( T17)
|
4.7 km (2.9 mi) | |
 T20
|
Põdruse ( T1) |
Kunda | Pada ( T1)
|
28.3 km (17.6 mi) |
 T21
|
Rakvere | Luige ( T36)
|
69.6 km (43.2 mi) | |
 T22
|
Rakvere ( T5) |
Väike-Maarja | Vägeva ( T39)
|
52.0 km (32.3 mi) |
 T23
|
Rakvere ( T5) |
Haljala ( T1)
|
8.3 km (5.2 mi) | |
 T24
|
Tapa ( T5) |
Loobu ( T1)
|
26.0 km (16.2 mi) | |
 T25
|
Mäeküla ( T2) |
Koeru | Kapu ( T39)
|
25.3 km (15.7 mi) |
 T26
|
Türi ( T5) |
Arkma ( T49)
|
21.2 km (13.2 mi) | |
 T27
|
Rapla | Järvakandi | Kergu ( T58)
|
40.8 km (25.4 mi) |
 T28
|
Rapla | Märjamaa ( T4)
|
21.6 km (13.4 mi) | |
 T29
|
Märjamaa ( T4) |
Koluvere ( T10)
|
25.1 km (15.6 mi) | |
 T31
|
Haapsalu ( T9) |
Laiküla ( T10)
|
36.0 km (22.4 mi) | |
 T32
|
Jõhvi ( T1) |
Vasknarva | 49.9 km (31.0 mi) | |
 T33
|
Jõhvi ( T3) |
Kose ( T32)
|
3.6 km (2.2 mi) | |
 T34
|
Varja ( T1) |
Kiviõli | 8.7 km (5.4 mi) | |
 T35
|
Iisaku | Tudulinna | Avinurme ( T21)
|
33.5 km (20.8 mi) |
| T36
|
Jõgeva | Mustvee | 38.9 km (24.2 mi) | |
 T37
|
Jõgeva | Põltsamaa | 26.1 km (16.2 mi) | |
 T38
|
Põltsamaa | Võhma ( T49)
|
27.6 km (17.1 mi) | |
| T39
|
Tartu ( T3) |
Jõgeva | Aravete ( T5)
|
108.0 km (67.1 mi) |
 T40
|
Tartu ( T3) |
Tiksoja ( T2)
|
7.0 km (4.3 mi) | |
 T41
|
Kärevere ( T2) |
Kärkna ( T39)
|
12.9 km (8.0 mi) | |
 T42
|
Kärkna ( T39) |
Kobratu ( T3)
|
7.1 km (4.4 mi) | |
 T43
|
Aovere ( T3) |
Kallaste | Kasepää ( T3)
|
57.0 km (35.4 mi) |
 T44
|
Aovere ( T43) |
Luunja ( T45)
|
11.4 km (7.1 mi) | |
| T45
|
Tartu ( T3) |
Räpina | Värska | 85.5 km (53.1 mi) |
 T46
|
Tatra ( T2) |
Otepää | Sangaste ( T69)
|
46.6 km (29.0 mi) |
 T47
|
Sangla ( T92) |
Rõngu ( T52)
|
22.4 km (13.9 mi) | |
| T49
|
Imavere ( T2) |
Viljandi | Karksi-Nuia ( T6)
|
82.1 km (51.0 mi) |
 T50
|
Aindu ( T49) |
Viljandi ( T92) (also known as Viljandi road)
|
4.4 km (2.7 mi) | |
 T51
|
Viljandi | Põltsamaa ( T38)
|
43.4 km (27.0 mi) | |
| T52
|
Viljandi | Rõngu ( T3)
|
61.1 km (38.0 mi) | |
 T53
|
Ojaperve ( T49) |
Viiratsi ( T52) (also known as Laidu road)
|
3.6 km (2.2 mi) | |
 T54
|
Karksi-Nuia ( T6) |
Lilli | border with Latvia | 17.0 km (10.6 mi) |
 T55
|
Kamara ( T6) |
Mõisaküla | border with Latvia (also known as Mõisaküla road) | 4.4 km (2.7 mi) |
 T57
|
Mudiste ( T49) |
Suure-Jaani | Vändra ( T5)
|
42.8 km (26.6 mi) |
| T58
|
Aluste ( T5) |
Kergu ( T27)
|
12.2 km (7.6 mi) | |
 T59
|
Pärnu ( T4) |
Tori ( T5)
|
23.5 km (14.6 mi) | |
 T60
|
Pärnu ( T4) |
Lihula ( T10)
|
56.1 km (34.9 mi) | |
 T61
|
Põlva | Reola ( T2)
|
37.1 km (23.1 mi) | |
 T62
|
Kanepi ( T2) |
Leevaku ( T45)
|
41.8 km (26.0 mi) | |
 T63
|
Karisilla ( T45) |
Koidula border checkpoint with Russia | Petseri (Печоры) | 17.8 km (11.1 mi) |
 T64
|
Võru | Põlva | 24.7 km (15.3 mi) | |
 T65
|
Võru | Räpina | 44.0 km (27.3 mi) | |
 T66
|
Võru | Verijärve ( T2)
|
6.5 km (4.0 mi) | |
 T67
|
Võru | Mõniste | Valga | 83.3 km (51.8 mi) |
 T68
|
Mõniste ( T67) |
border with Latvia | Ape | 8.9 km (5.5 mi) |
| T69
|
Võru ( T2) |
Kuigasti | Tõrva ( T6)
|
71.3 km (44.3 mi) |
 T70
|
Antsla | Vaabina ( T69)
|
6.9 km (4.3 mi) | |
 T71
|
Rõngu ( T3) |
Otepää | Kanepi ( T2)
|
39.3 km (24.4 mi) |
 T72
|
Sangaste ( T69) |
Tõlliste ( T3)
|
16.6 km (10.3 mi) | |
 T73
|
Tõrva ( T6) |
Pikasilla ( T52)
|
12.0 km (7.5 mi) | |
 T75
|
Tumala ( T10) |
Orissaare | Väinatamm causeway ( T10)
|
8.3 km (5.2 mi) |
 T76
|
Kuressaare ring road | 13.5 km (8.4 mi) | ||
 T77
|
Kuressaare | Sääre | 47.4 km (29.5 mi) | |
 T78
|
Kuressaare | Kihelkonna | Veere | 47.8 km (29.7 mi) |
 T79
|
Upa ( T10) |
Leisi | 36.8 km (22.9 mi) | |
 T80
|
Heltermaa port | Kärdla | Luidja ( T84)
|
50.2 km (31.2 mi) |
 T81
|
Kärdla | Käina ( T83)
|
21.7 km (13.5 mi) | |
 T82
|
T80 | Lehtma port (also known as Lehtma port road) | 7.0 km (4.3 mi) | |
| T83
|
Suuremõisa ( T80) |
Käina | Emmaste | 31.2 km (19.4 mi) |
| T84
|
Emmaste ( T83) |
Luidja ( T80)
|
29.9 km (18.6 mi) | |
 T85
|
Liiapeksi ( T1) |
Loksa | 15.5 km (9.6 mi) | |
 T86
|
Kuressaare | Võhma | Panga | 36.8 km (22.9 mi) |
 T87
|
Põlva ring road | 6.0 km (3.7 mi) | ||
 T88
|
Rakvere | Rannapungerja ( T3)
|
70.8 km (44.0 mi) | |
 T89
|
Põlva | Saverna ( T2)
|
20.4 km (12.7 mi) | |
 T90
|
Põlva | Karisilla ( T45)
|
34.2 km (21.3 mi) | |
 T91
|
Narva ( T1) |
Narva-Jõesuu | Hiiemetsa ( T1)
|
26.3 km (16.3 mi) |
 T93
|
Kohtla-Järve | Kukruse | Tammiku ( T3)
|
15.6 km (9.7 mi) |
 T94
|
Liivamäe ( T1) |
Muuga container port (also known as Muuga port road) | 3.4 km (2.1 mi) | |
 T95
|
Kõrveküla ( T3) |
Tartu | 1.9 km (1.2 mi) | |
Secondary routes
Secondary roads make up the vast majority of Estonia's road network and form the backbone of rural transport. There are a total of 1785 secondary roads in the registry, the shortest of them 70 metres and the longest 76,8 kilometres long. The county codes used in the numbering system are as follows:
| County | Digits |
|---|---|
| Harjumaa | 11xxx |
| Hiiumaa | 12xxx |
| Ida-Virumaa | 13xxx |
| Jõgevamaa | 14xxx |
| Järvamaa | 15xxx |
| Läänemaa | 16xxx |
| Lääne-Virumaa | 17xxx |
| Põlvamaa | 18xxx |
| Pärnumaa | 19xxx |
| Raplamaa | 20xxx |
| Saaremaa | 21xxx |
| Tartumaa | 22xxx |
| Valgamaa | 23xxx |
| Viljandimaa | 24xxx |
| Võrumaa | 25xxx |
European routes
Estonia is a part of the UNECE, and therefore also has numerous E-roads running through it. The E-roads in Estonia form a network on top of the main routes and are usually signposted on all signs. They make up a network of 994 kilometers (618 miles) of road. Currently there are six separate European routes in Estonia.
List of European routes
| Route | Estonian route | Control cities | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
 E 20
|
T1
|
Tallinn, Narva | 212.6 km (132.1 mi) |
 E 67
|
T4
|
Tallinn, Pärnu, Ikla | 192.3 km (119.5 mi) |
 E 77
|
T7
|
Luhamaa border checkpoint, Misso border crossing | 22.0 km (13.7 mi) |
 E 263
|
T2
|
Tallinn, Tartu, Võru, Luhamaa | 287.8 km (178.8 mi) |
 E 264
|
T3
|
Jõhvi, Tartu, Valga | 219.6 km (136.5 mi) |
 E 265
|
T8 / T11
|
Tallinn ring road, Paldiski | 60.4 km (37.5 mi) |
Former (historical) roads
See also
References
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Eesti teedevõrk Transpordiamet (Retrieved 2021-08-22)
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)