Transport Department Dismisses Tunnel Flooding as Serious Issue
Estonia's Transport Department says flooding in road tunnels during heavy rain is not a major problem, as maintenance crews respond quickly. Recent flooding in the Iru-Loo tunnel caused delays but officials say it is not a design flaw.
Heavy rain on Sunday morning flooded the car tunnel between Iru and Loo in Harju County, located under the Tallinn–Narva highway. A queue formed at the entrance, and at least one car stalled as water levels were high enough to kill the engine. The reconstruction of this section was completed 14 years ago, and the first flooding occurred just months afterward.
Viktor Kiselev, head of the Northern Department of the Transport Department, stated that the issue is not a design error. According to him, the problem is localized: the tunnel is situated in a very low area, where rainwater from the surrounding terrain accumulates. The water flow can be so strong that it brings debris from the road, clogging the drain grilles. Kiselev emphasized that there is no widespread flooding problem in Estonian tunnels.
He added that each tunnel has drain grilles, and the technology used depends on whether water can be drained by gravity or requires pumps. The road maintenance partner monitors the situation and responds, as was done on Sunday by manually cleaning the grilles in the Iru-Loo tunnel.
Citizens can report road flooding via the national information hotline 1247.
