The government stated that Estonians should not use Russian land for travel. This means that the two roads in Saatse Boot will remain closed. Prime Minister Kristen Michal spoke about this at the government press conference.
Michal said that Russia's actions have become more dangerous. The old agreement to drive through without stopping is no longer valid. Armed people make it impossible. These roads will remain closed.
The small boot road, which leads around, will be completed in a couple of months. The RMK road, which is already in use, will be improved and expanded.
The state will not assess the environmental impacts of building the new road. This road is necessary for Estonia's security. The Transport Administration began preparing the road in 2024. Funding was decided in 2025.
Currently, the road construction is halted because the first route encountered environmentally valuable species. The second route passes through a Natura area, where an environmental impact assessment is required. The government decided that the environmental impact assessment will be skipped based on security reasons. The Natura assessment will be done, but it will take less time.
The road is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2026. The government is also discussing additional support for locals, especially for public transport.
Interior Minister Igor Taro said that the incident in Saatse Boot was responded to quickly. The safety report showed that the safety of the previous route is no longer certain.
The government closed the roads for security reasons. Physical barriers will be built to ensure the integrity of the border. The state will help the local government solve new public transport problems during the road construction.