Fahle City Linked to Ülemiste and Rail Baltic Terminal

Tallinn city is building a breakthrough for cycle paths on both sides of Tartu Road through the railway embankment and a cycle viaduct over Tartu Road. These tunnels at the intersection of Tartu Road and Petersburg Road will help connect Ülemiste, Sikupilli and Fahle districts into one whole. The architects of Fahle development see the creation of cycle paths as an important opportunity for Fahle's development. This promotes the emergence of a vibrant urban space, is good for promoting businesses and services, and creates mobility between districts.

„Currently, Ülemiste, Fahle and Sikupilli districts stand with their backs to each other, separated by traffic roads and a viaduct. Connecting the areas with cycle paths would be a major step forward for both Fahle and Ülemiste districts as well as for Tallinn's urban development as a whole," said Margit Aule, architect of Fahle Park from LUMIA architecture bureau.

According to Aule, logical footpaths and easy accessibility from all sides are prerequisites for good development. „To promote cycling, we have also planned several bicycle parking facilities in Fahle, what is missing are only the connections with neighbors. Soon Fahle district will expand its borders to the Petersburg Road viaduct and will also add apartments to the development," said Aule.

According to Tallinn Deputy Mayor Madle Lippus, Tallinn has a firm plan to create connections to the intersection of Tartu Road and Petersburg Road, where instead of one narrow access, there should be spacious and safe access points on both sides of the road. „New tunnels through the railway embankment will make Tartu Road's street space more human-scale and will significantly improve equal opportunities for movement in different ways. Fahle development has good prerequisites for the emergence of an architecturally distinctive urban space, one part of which will certainly also be passages designed for cyclists and pedestrians to move safely and quickly. This creates a convenient connection between the city center and Ülemiste," said Lippus.

Aule emphasizes that cycle paths play a decisive role in shaping people's movement patterns. „The opportunity to get there on foot or by bike carries a message that you are welcome. Isolated areas feel unfriendly. Cycle paths make people move to where they want to go, not where they can go," said Aule.

Madle Lippus brings as a successful example the connection of Kadriorg with Ülemiste by cycle path „Siug" in 2021, which made people move more in that direction. Similar impact is expected from the new roads as well.