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Making Tartu’s heart even more inviting: reconstructing Vabaduse Avenue

Photo: Ragnar Vutt

Vabaduse Avenue, located in the heart of the city, is being redesigned to better suit its central role – prioritising pedestrians and creating a pleasant environment for spending time. This year, the section between Arch Bridge and Lai Street will be renovated. 

Reconstruction works on Vabaduse Avenue (Vabaduse puiestee), in the section between Arch Bridge (Kaarsild) and Lai Street, will begin on Thursday, 26 June. This stretch of road will be closed to traffic until the end of August.

The section between Arch Bridge and Gildi Street is scheduled to reopen to traffic by 31 August, which will also improve access to and from the Magistri car park and the city centre. Throughout the construction period, the car park will remain accessible via Gildi Street.

The traffic lights in front of Kaarsild and at the Lai–Vabaduse Avenue junction will be switched off.

Gildi Street, between Kompanii and Vabaduse Avenue, as well as Munga Street, between Kompanii and Vabaduse Avenue, will be made two-way. Access to the Magistri car park will be available via Jakobi and Ülikooli Streets. The exit route will be via Gildi–Kompanii–Munga Streets.
Traffic scheme.

Changes to Bus Routes

From the first departure on 26 June, bus routes – including night buses – will be redirected due to construction. The detour routes will remain in place until the evening of 31 August. In early August, when Kroonuaia Street is reopened, the bus routes will also be adjusted.

Temporary route for Bus No. 6 (outbound direction):
Rahu sild– Narva mnt– Vene ring– Vabaduse sild– Lai Street.
The following stops will not be served: Vabaduse pst, Raeplats, Palmihoone.
A temporary Palmihoone stop (outbound) will be on Lai Street near the Botanical Garden. The temporary stop for Kloostri is near the Kloostri–Lai junction (on Lai Street). The replacement stop for Vabaduse Avenue and Raeplats is Linnamuuseum.

Inbound direction for Bus No. 6:
Lai – Vabaduse sild – Narva mnt – Rahu sild.
A temporary Palmihoone stop will be set up on Lai Street (near the Botanical Garden).
Traffic scheme.

Temporary route for Bus No. 7:
Rahu sild– Narva mnt (and vice versa).
In the outbound direction, the following stops will not be served: Vabaduse pst, Raeplats, Vabaduse sild. Use Linnamuuseum as a replacement stop.
Inbound, the following stops will not be served: Palmihoone, Raeplats. Palmihoone’s replacement stop is Vene, and Raeplats’ replacement stop is Atlantis.
Traffic scheme.

Temporary route for Bus No. 13 (outbound):
Rahu sild – Narva mnt– Ujula–Sauna–Emajõe–Kartuli–Herne.
The following stops will not be served: Vabaduse pst, Raeplats, Palmihoone, Kroonuaia, Herne.
Replacement stop for Palmihoone and Kroonuaia is Meltsiveski. Vabaduse pst and Raeplats stops are replaced by Linnamuuseum.

Inbound for Bus No. 13:
Herne – Kartuli – Emajõe – Sauna – Ujula – Narva mnt– Rahu sild.
Traffic scheme.

Temporary route for Bus No. 21:
Jakobi – Lai – Vabaduse sild – Vene ring – Narva mnt – Fortuuna.
The following stops will not be served: Palmihoone, Raeplats. A temporary Palmihoone stop will be installed on Lai Street (near the Botanical Garden).
The bus will stop at Vene and Atlantis.
Traffic scheme.

Temporary route for Bus No. 22:
Raatuse – Narva mnt– Vene ring– Vabaduse sild– Kroonuaia.
The following stops will not be served: Atlantis, Vabaduse pst, Raeplats, Palmihoone.
The replacement for Palmihoone is near the Botanical Garden. Atlantis, Vabaduse pst, and Raeplats are replaced by Linnamuuseum.
Traffic scheme.

About the Project

Read more about the new street space on the Tartu City website (in Estonian).

The works are carried out by OÜ Kivipartner.
The temporary traffic arrangements are coordinated by Henry Uibo (+372 521 6370, henry@kivipartner.ee).

For live traffic updates, see the map: liikluspiirangud.tartu.ee

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