The Transport Agency does not plan to open ice roads this year either. Lack of funding and weather are the main reasons.
Hannes Vaidla, the head of the road maintenance service at the Transport Agency, says that the weather is not suitable for ice roads. Snow prevents water from freezing. A longer cold period would be needed.
Vaidla also mentions that ice roads are not as important as they used to be. The state has invested in ferries that operate year-round.
The Transport Agency does not build ice roads itself. They commission this work to contractors. Since 2022, ice roads have not been built due to lack of funds.
The city of Haapsalu and the Lääne-Nigula municipality attempted to build the Noarootsi ice road. They used municipal funds. It cost over 15,000 euros, but the road did not open.
All seven ice roads were last opened in 2011.