Fuel retailer dictates construction of key traffic junction in Tallinn
23.02.2012, 09:49Olerex, the operator of one of Estonia’s largest networks of fuel retailers, is controlling the construction of the Väo traffic junction in Peterburi tee, a key traffic infrastructure.
Because Olerex refused to sell the state its property that was in the middle of the planned highway junction, the state reached agreement with the company while Olerex will be financing designing the road construction project. This is likely to cost the company between 200,000 and 400,000 euros.
Under the current plan, Olerex will have its service station in the middle of the junction.
Some traffic specialists have said that it making the whole traffic scheme very dangerous and that the whole project has been designed by keeping the company’s interests in mind.
A representative of Ramboll Eesti said that the company refused to audit the construction project since the design solution does not comply with requirements of safe road design.
„Our Finnish colleagues said that the road administration should not approve such a project at all, to say nothing of actually building it,” said the designer.
For some reason, the audit was commissioned by K-Projekt that is involved in designing the junction, and not by the national road administration, as normal.
When asked about why Olerex was financing the design of such an important traffic junction, minister of economic affairs Juhan Parts said that he could not believe that such a cooperation is going on.
„I will eat my hat if your claim that Olerex was financing the design of the road construction project,” said Parts.
By estimations, the Väo junction would handle 76,000 cars by 2027 every day.
Olerex is one of Estonia’s largest fuel retailer that had revenues of 1.6 billion kroons and a net profit of 25 million kroons in 2010. The company belongs to two Estonian businessmen, Antti Moppel and Andres Linnas.