Estonia has opened a 20km ice road across the frozen Baltic Sea, connecting the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The road was officially opened on Sunday after local residents began driving across the ice spontaneously, prompting authorities to act.
The ice road is a marked corridor where ice thickness exceeds 24cm, the minimum required for safety. Vehicles must weigh under 2.5 tonnes and drive either below 20km/h or between 40 and 70km/h to avoid vibrations that could damage the ice. Passengers are not allowed to wear seatbelts, and doors must be easy to open for quick exits in case of an accident.
Hergo Tasuja, mayor of Hiiumaa, described the ice road as “part of our culture”. He noted that locals have a tradition of using the sea in winter, and the road provides a vital link for the 9,000 residents of Hiiumaa to access Saaremaa’s shops, schools, and mainland connections. Ferries had struggled due to weeks of temperatures dropping to -10C.
Marek Koppel, a road maintenance supervisor, explained that workers measure ice thickness every 100 metres and monitor conditions around the clock. The last such ice road was used eight years ago, as recent winters have been too warm. Authorities have contracted the construction company to open two more ice routes connecting the mainland to smaller islands.
