Estonia, Legislation, Tourism, Transport

The plan to build either a bridge or a tunnel between Saaremaa and mainland has been in works for many years, but so far just the environmental effects and other studies are under way. However, the topic is not included in the state’s development vision “Estonia 2030+”, that is being compiled.

“With the Saaremaa permanent connection, the ministry stated that it is a regional interest and project, not a state priority,” said Tavo Kikas from the interior ministry’s planning department, adding that over the past decade, ferry traffic situation has improved so much and long ferry queues have disappeared that the topic isn’t as acute as it used to be.

Kikas said that residents of the Saaremaa island themselves have not shown much unity in the issue of whether the connection would be necessary either and thus there are obviously problems that of higher importance for the island than the permanent connection.