At Tartu Bus Station, a two-month-long reconstruction will begin next Monday, on 16.05.2022 which will temporarily close the waiting area. Both ticket sales and Cargobus' parcel delivery and courier service will move to temporary heated containers.
Sven Saar, Real Estate Development Manager of Estiko Group, explained that the reconstruction works concern both the interior and exterior of the bus station. "The current ticket sales boxes will be demolished, which means that there will be more space for passengers in the waiting area," Saar explained.
In addition, the existing Cargobus service counter will be built larger and will move closer to the waiting area. "This could be a more convenient service for everyone because Cargobus' premises are very small at the moment. But then there is the possibility to give packages and sell tickets from the same place,” Saar explained.
As the waiting area is closed during the construction works, both ticket sales and Cargobus parcel delivery will take place from the temporary heated containers, which will remain on the side of the open market. However, access to the R-Kiosk and Caffeine cafe will remain open during the renovation. Buses leave from the usual platforms during the construction work.
According to Sven Saar, all the necessary work will be done as soon as possible. “We desire to disrupt passengers' lives as little as possible, which is why we do fieldwork in smaller stages, for example. All fences will be arranged so that it is possible to move on the sidewalks,” Saar explained.
The construction project prepared by Rovin OÜ also envisaged the reconstruction of the facade adjacent to Soola Street, but according to Saare, it is currently being postponed. "We decided to reduce the construction volume of the fieldwork and focus primarily on the well-being of the bus station visitor," said Saar.
According to Airika Aruksaar, CEO of the Bus Station operator T grupp OÜ, Tartu will take the title of European Capital of Culture in 2024, and deserves a cultural and beautiful city gate to receive visitors.
“We have brought cultural events to passengers at the bus stations operated by T grupp OÜ for the last few years: we show various pop-up exhibitions in cooperation with the Estonian Art Museum, we opened travel libraries in Tallinn, Rakvere, Jõhvi and soon Tartu and Haapsalu, we offer various experiences in cooperation with PÖFF, Fotografiska and Jazzkaar. After the renovation, we will achieve such a spatial environment at the bus station of Emajõelinn, which will also allow Tartu to be involved in our «Culture walks at the bus station» projects," said Aruksaar.
The reconstruction project of the bus station was prepared by Rovin OÜ, the construction works are performed by SVG projekt OÜ.
Read more from the news portal TARTU POSTIMEES! (The article is in Estonian.)
