Earlier this week, the government agreed to keep both sections of the road closed after an armed Russian unit without insignia was seen on the road a week ago.

Once the bypass is complete, the part of the existing road that crosses through Russian territory will be closed off with barriers and a border fence.

The Little Boot passes through Russian territory for approximately 30 meters. The detour will be approximately 90 meters long and will be completed by Sunday evening.

"First, we will remove the existing surface, then level the area, and after that build a gravel road. The road will be seven meters wide and the gravel layer will be 30 centimeters thick," said Annika Birk, head of road maintenance at the Transport Administration.

"The work is more complicated than inland projects, but we submitted all individuals carrying out the work to the Police and Border Guard Board for approval and they underwent background checks. In addition, we must strictly ensure that construction equipment does not cross the state border," she added.

On Friday, roadblocks were also placed on the road near the closed Saapa. According to the PPA, now that the sections of road crossing into Russian territory are closed, it is easier for them to ensure the safety of travelers in the border zone.

"For us, this means that whereas previously it was possible to drive through that area of Russian territory, and if something had happened to someone there, we would not have been able to respond. Now, that situation is ruled out in this section, and we can ensure the safety of our people on Estonian territory. That is the best outcome for us," said Renet Merdikes, head of the PPA's Saatse border station.

Work on the temporary extension of the bigger Saatse Boot detour road will begin on Monday.

---

Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!