Inquiry regarding road construction and four-lane roads (no 408)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-10-07 19:33
Total Speeches: 47
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 54m
AI Summaries: 47/47 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet’s response to the inquiry presented by Rene Kokk and other Riigikogu members (EKRE) on May 13, 2023, regarding road construction and four-lane roads. Inquirer Rene Kokk emphasized that the topic remains extremely relevant, citing the increasing number of traffic fatalities and the negative impact of the car tax on the aging of the car fleet. He demanded clear plans and funding from the government for the construction of four-lane highways.
Minister Svet listed ongoing and planned 2+2 road sections (e.g., Pärnu-Uulu, Libatse-Nurme, Päädeva-Konuvere) and highlighted that the government found 100 million euros for the construction of the Päädeva-Konuvere section in a complex economic situation, which confirms the priority of road construction. He noted that the volume of the road maintenance plan will grow from 153 million to 168 million euros in 2025. At the same time, the minister acknowledged that providing long-term completion deadlines is complex and emphasized the need for a cross-party strategic agreement for the stable financing of roads. In the debate, the opposition (primarily Martin Helme and Arvo Aller) criticized the minister, accusing him of presenting projects that are a legacy of previous governments and that the real purchasing power of road maintenance funds is diminishing due to inflation. The issue of directing the revenue from fuel excise duty and car tax into roads and the lagging development of Ida-Virumaa (the Tallinn-Narva highway) was also raised.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Martin Helme (right-wing) was one of the most active speakers, posing sharp questions to the minister and criticizing the government's lack of road construction plans and insufficient funding in his closing remarks.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The third item on the agenda concerns the interpellation regarding road construction and four-lane roads, submitted by Rene Koka and others on May 13, 2023, and presented by Rene Koka.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk gave a speech concerning the four-lane roads, a topic stemming from an interpellation that had been delayed for over a year. He stressed that road infrastructure is of critical importance for both the economy and traffic safety, and he posed five questions to the minister: the plans for four-lane road construction, the priority level of this construction, the projected completion time, the funding and scope for 2023–2027, and how state road construction funding will change over the next decade. He also referenced Latvia’s ambition to establish rapid connections between Riga and various points in Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks the house and announces that Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet will now take the Riigikogu podium to respond to the interpellation.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Vladimir Svet summarized the construction projects for four-lane and 2+2 roads before the Riigikogu (Parliament), including the special planning for segments like Pärnu-Uulu, Sauga-Pärnu, Libatse-Nurme, Päädeva-Konuvere, Neanurme-Pikknurme, Tartu-Kardla, Mäo-Imavere, and Haljala-Kukruse. He covered their costs and estimated completion timelines, noting that although the precise final completion years depend on upcoming budget negotiations, the government has secured significant funding. Approximately 713 million euros have been budgeted for the entire road construction period, which demonstrates that while the construction of four-lane roads is highly expensive, efforts are being made to move the projects forward.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked them and said that there were questions, and then invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The report emphasizes that the revenue generated from excise duties and the car tax is not clearly allocated to road infrastructure, and funding for road maintenance is shrinking. Therefore, it is recommended that this revenue be directed straight to road development and explicitly reflected in the budget.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet emphasized that financing road maintenance and construction requires a long-term, cross-party compromise and a stable vision, utilizing European Union funds (specifically the defense and mobility fund) and seeking opportunities before the next Riigikogu elections.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks Ants Frosch to come.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch recalled 2006, when signatures were collected to turn the Tallinn–Tartu highway into a four-lane road, a campaign in which almost all political parties participated, but the road was never built. Today, he asked when the cross-party proposal for road construction funding would finally come into effect.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
He stressed that prior to next year’s budget negotiations, a politically binding agreement must be reached. This agreement needs to account for cuts across all sectors and the distribution of funding, while also ensuring strong connectivity both within Estonia and across Europe, so that the economy can grow, roads remain safe, rural life develops, and, if necessary, allied military equipment can be stationed in Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme stresses that the government has failed to disclose its plans for major national road construction projects and how they will be financed. He criticizes the focus solely on short road segments and points out that inflation means less funding is being allocated to the road management program. He then directly poses a question regarding the next major construction sections and their respective budgets.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Vladimir Svet emphasizes that the road segments in question are substantial, and although funding is restricted, they are simultaneously working on both the construction of existing sections and the development of new projects. The focus is on specific segments and securing the necessary financing so that these roads can ultimately be completed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invited Vladimir Arkhipov to the stage and asked him to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov asks what the government's plans and timeline are for asphalting gravel roads in different counties.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
He stated that there are currently insufficient funds available to pave all gravel roads, and that setting priorities and securing additional funding is necessary to direct resources toward the most critical road investments, specifically for four-lane highways and road maintenance.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asked Arvo Aller to come and give a speech.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller's speech focuses on the question of priorities, and he asks when the 10-kilometer Jõhvi–Toila stretch will be added back into the road maintenance plan so that construction can begin and people's lives can be saved.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet said that due to a lack of funds, priorities must be set: prioritizing the Pärnu direction as a gateway to Europe and allies, and bringing the Jõhvi issue back to the table, focusing on long-term road funding and people's safety, because about one person dies on the roads in Estonia every week.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Rain Epler to come forward.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler is asking why people are talking about a lack of sufficient funds when, at the same time, there are plans to use about 200 million euros from the sale of CO2 quotas for Rail Baltic. Furthermore, he wants to know what the plan is regarding the Ministry of Climate and whether all of that money will be put into the construction of Rail Baltic.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Svet confirmed that Rail Baltic will be completed by 2030 and that CO2 quota funds will be allocated conservatively, approximately 500 million over four years, 100 million of which is reserved for contingencies and cost increases. These funds will finance not only Rail Baltic but also the new depot for Elron trains in Soodevahe, the renovation of apartment buildings, and the bringing of ships to Estonia, thereby creating jobs and tax revenue.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasized that road maintenance funding has been cut, and poor upkeep during the winter and autumn creates risks of tragic accidents. Therefore, the state needs to provide proper road maintenance and investments, rather than just issuing appeals to drive slowly.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet emphasized that the main causes of traffic fatalities are drunk driving, speed inappropriate for road conditions, insufficient distance, and unfastened seatbelts, and stated that drivers must adhere to the speed limit designated for each section. He added that the budget for winter road maintenance will not be cut next year, and the reductions will primarily affect new signs, road markings, grass cutting, and patching minor potholes, ensuring that safety will not be compromised.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid argues that Estonia effectively has a motor vehicle tax in the form of fuel excise duty. He recalls how during the previous crisis, the revenue collected was directed towards road maintenance and construction, and that dedicated link has not been reversed. He then asks the responsible minister what total sum was collected last year, what percentage of that was spent on road construction and maintenance, and what the proportion of dedicated (earmarked) usage is.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet emphasizes that the most crucial task is finding a strategic model for road financing, as there has been no clear connection between fuel excise duty revenue and road funding in recent years. Although the current volume of road maintenance stands at 153 million euros, and will be 168 million euros next year (pending approval of the budget by the Riigikogu), and the government has additionally secured 100 million euros in investment for the subsequent three years, he aims to find a functional model by the end of his term. This model would make discussions more constructive and put an end to disputes over the construction of individual road sections.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The announcement called Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets emphasizes that the underfunding of the road network has led to a situation where they are not only unable to build main highways, but there is also insufficient funding for road repairs, referencing the 4.4 billion euro repair backlog from last year and asking how large it is today.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet said that while determining the exact amount of the funding gap is complicated, the goal is to gradually increase the road maintenance plan’s budget to 250–300 million annually and secure long-term funding for road upkeep, thereby covering both our major international objectives and various regional issues.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Anti Poolamets to take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets is criticizing the government over rising energy prices and the failure to deliver on promises made under the guise of the green transition. He also claims that the Tallinn–Narva route has been stripped of its priority status, and the rhetoric surrounding the development of Ida-Virumaa doesn't hold water because roads aren't being built.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
A national special planning process is underway on the 70-kilometer Haljala-Kukruse section of the Tallinn-Narva highway, and simultaneously, it is emphasized that the restoration of border control, sanctions, and Russia's war have significantly impacted the traffic on this route.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Kert Kingo to speak.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo is criticizing the Transport Administration's installation of central barrier posts, arguing that they neither slow traffic nor guarantee road safety. She highlights that a single post costs 80 euros and questions whether the true purpose of their installation is simply to generate revenue for the government.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet said that he does not comment on unfounded corruption speculation, emphasized the role of separating opposing lanes and rubber posts for safety, and reiterated that intersections and traffic signs are decided by traffic specialists, not by him or the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
To start the address, Kalle Grünthal is invited to the stage.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal noted that rubber or plastic bollards are serious traffic impediments, and while they might be sensible on some stretches, they shouldn't cause slowdowns and long queues on long straight sections.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet thanked the constructive approach, noting that while some points were correct, others were incorrectly implemented. He suggested that it would be better to widen the road or utilize 2+1 or 2+2 solutions and expand intersections. He confirmed his readiness to answer questions regarding specific intersection sections and urged people to write in and focus on saving human lives, warning against baseless accusations and recommending that anyone who suspects corruption should contact the police.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Minister, states that there are no further questions, and opens the floor for debate, inviting Martin Helme to speak first.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme criticized the minister for unreliable answers regarding road funding and claimed that fuel excise duties are not sufficiently directed toward road construction or maintenance, that the planning of large projects is delayed or nonexistent, and that maintenance funding has decreased, which increases the number of traffic accidents.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address began with thanks, and next, Rain Epler was invited to the Riigikogu rostrum to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler briefly summarizes that Minister Svet confirmed the long-term plan is simple: priorities must be set, the Estonian section of Via Baltica will be completed by 2030 or some other year, and although the funds earmarked in the budget for road maintenance and construction are decreasing, everyone must strive to ensure that this money grows.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker confirms that the points made were excellent, assures everyone that his summary will capture the essence of the discussion, and then asks Arvo Aller to continue.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller stated that although the four-lane road plan and the road maintenance plan were discussed, and the 10-kilometer Jõhvi–Toila section has been fully designed, and the Haljala–Kukruse section is about to enter the design phase, the connections for Narva and Ida-Virumaa have been de-prioritized. Furthermore, poor road maintenance is creating dangerous traffic situations, which in turn is slowing down both business development and the movement of people traveling eastward.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the handling of this agenda item has been concluded, and requested that it be deemed closed, stressing that the proceedings will continue one by one and the open microphone session will commence after the strike of the gavel.