Estonian national road 4

The route Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla was part of the historical postal route between Tallinn and Riga, connecting the governatorial capitals of Estonia and Livonia. Post houses and inns were well established along the road already by the end of the 17th century. In 1800 a new route between Pärnu and Riga was established via Mõisaküla and Valmiera, replacing the previously used coastal route via Häädemeeste.^[4]

The end of the 1930s saw large-scale construction works planned on the route Laatre-Pärnu-Tallinn, to accommodate foreign visitors travelling by car to the 1940 Helsinki Olympics. The project, named "Olympic Way", foresaw the straightening of 55 kilometres of road sections and blacktop laid on 70 kilometres, replacing cobblestones. Construction began in 1939, but after the outbreak of war, materials were hard to come by and the Olympics eventually cancelled. This also cancelled the Olympic Way.^[5][6]

Under Soviet occupation, the highway was one of three considered to have All-Union importance (alongside Tallinn-Narva, Tallinn-Tartu).^[7] Large scale reconstruction was undertaken in 1961-1972 between Tallinn and Märjamaa.^[8] A bypass for Pärnu, including a bridge across the Pärnu river, were completed in 1970 and 1976 respectively.^[9] The first stretch of dual carriageway was opened by the 1980 Moscow Olympics, as the sailing event was held in Tallinn. A further stretch was opened during the 1980s.

The first international discussions around Via Baltica, a highway connecting Tallinn, Riga, Kaunas and Warsaw were held in 1988.^[10] Although progress has not been as successful as envisaged then, the tenets of these discussions are still held firm and eventual full development is at least ideally expected.

The first developments after re-independence saw the reconstruction and widening of Pärnu bypass in 2009–2012.^[11] In 2017 and 2020, 2+1 sections were constructed between Ääsmäe-Kohatu and bypassing Kernu.^[12][13]

Following the reconstruction and widening of the Pärnu bypass between 2009 and 2012, and the addition of 2+1 sections between Ääsmäe–Kohatu and the Kernu bypass in 2017 and 2020, further developments have been undertaken on Estonian national road 4. In 2023, the Pärnu–Uulu section was upgraded to a 2+2 dual carriageway, enhancing traffic flow and safety. Additionally, the Päädeva–Konuvere segment is undergoing reconstruction into a 2+2 road, with the project encompassing the refurbishment of the Konuvere Bridge to meet European road safety and design standards, as well as military mobility requirements.

However, plans for the Libatse–Nurme 2+2 expansion have encountered delays. The initial construction tender failed, leading to a revised completion target set for 2029. These developments are part of Estonia's broader efforts to enhance its main road network, particularly the Via Baltica corridor, to improve connectivity and safety.

The T4 is a major north–south highway in Estonia connecting the capital of the country, Tallinn, to the fourth largest city in Estonia, Pärnu, and ultimately the Latvian border (where the Latvian A1 continues to Riga). The T4 is a part of European route E67, also known as the Via Baltica.

The route begins in Tallinn from Viru Square and runs through the city for 13 kilometres, following the city streets of Pärnu maantee and Vabaduse puiestee. Exiting the city it services the borough of Laagri. The T11 is met in Kanama at a cloverleaf interchange. Dual carriageway continues until Ääsmäe, with the outermost lane heading towards Haapsalu as the T9. A further 13 kilometres of 2+1 road follows, with a new route bypassing Kernu.

From here the route is generally straight, but does go through boroughs and villages, such as Märjamaa and Are. Another very short 2+1 sections precedes Sauga and Pärnu. The road turns left onto Pärnu bypass, which, while having 2+2 lanes, has at-grade intersections and traffic lights. The Pärnu river is crossed and the road turns left again at an intersection with Riia maantee.

The Pärnu-Uulu 2+2 section begins here on a slightly straightened route as compared to before, culminating in a trumpet interchange with the T6 in Uulu. The highway continues along the coast, meeting only the boroughs of Võiste and Häädemeeste before culminating on the Latvian border in Ikla. The former border station serves as a rest stop. The road continues as the A1 in Latvia.

The route passes through Harju County (Tallinn, Saue), Rapla County (Märjamaa), Pärnu County (Tori, Pärnu, Häädemeeste).

More information Municipality, Location ...

Municipality	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
Tallinn	Viru väljak	0.0	0.0		Viru Square is the starting point for four highways - Tallinn-Narva, Tallinn-Tartu, Tallinn-Pärnu and Tallinn-Paldiski. Concurrency with T8.
	Vabaduse väljak				Urban intersection
	Järve			– Viljandi highway, Rapla	Urban intersection
	Liiva			– Tammemäe	Urban intersection
Saue	Veskitammi			– Laagri centre, Seljaku street, Nõlvaku street
	Tänassilma
Start of dual carriageway
Saue	Topi			– Harku
	Kanama			– Keila, Saue, Paldiski, Narva, Tartu	Reconstruction planned to strengthen T11 viaduct and add collectors on T4.
	Kanama			– Jälgimäe, Saue village	Northbound exit and entrance only
	Rahula			– Harku	At-grade; all-directions access via U-turns
	Jõgisoo			– Valingu; Vesiveski road Voore road
	Ääsmäe			– Haapsalu, Virtsu;  – Ääsmäe
End of dual carriageway
Start of 2+1
Saue	Kernu			– Kohatu, Kernu;
	Haiba			– Riisipere, Kernu, Haiba
End of 2+1
Saue	Kustja			– Kernu, Kohila	Northbound exit only, formed by former T4 route
Märjamaa	Vaidi			– Riisipere, Pajaka
	Varbola			– Rapla, Varbola centre
	Varbola			– Lümandu, Sipa
	Vaimõisa			– Russalu
	Orgita			– Rapla
	Orgita				To be constructed as part of Päädeva-Konuvere 2+2 section
	Orgita			– Märjamaa, Koluvere
	Märjamaa			– Märjamaa, Valgu
	Haimre			– Märjamaa
	Haimre			– Moka, Haimre centre
	Haimre				To be constructed as part of Päädeva-Konuvere 2+2 section
	Naistevalla			– Naistevalla
	Konuvere			– Paeküla;  – Sulu
	Konuvere				To be constructed as part of Päädeva-Konuvere 2+2 section
	Konuvere			– Kilgi
	Päärdu
	Päärdu
	Päärdu			– Manni, Valgu, Velise
	Jädivere			– Vana-Vigala, Kivi-Vigala
	Jädivere
Põhja-Pärnumaa	Jädivere			– Langerma centre  – Valgu, Kaelase
	Jädivere			– Libatse road
	Pärnu-Jaagupi			– Pärnu-Jaagupi centre, Koonga
	Kergu				To be constructed as part of Libatse-Are 2+2 section
	Pärnu-Jaagupi			– Kergu, Pööravere
	Pärnu-Jaagupi			– Pärnu-Jaagupi centre
	Halinga				To be constructed as part of Libatse-Are 2+2 section
	Halinga			– Valistre
Tori	Are			– Elbu
	Are				To be constructed as part of Are-Nurme 2+2 section
	Are			– Suigu, Pärnu-Rakvere highway
	Are			– Are centre
	Nurme			– Tõstamaa, Audru
	Nurme				To be constructed as part of Are-Nurme 2+2 section
Start of 2+1
Tori	Nurme			– Suigu, Kilksama	Northbound exit and entrance only
End of 2+1
Tori	Sauga			– Sauga centre  – Urge, Kilksama, Sauga	Roundabout
Pärnu	Ehitajate			– Lihula, Audru
	Papiniidu			– Rakvere; Tammiste road
	Raeküla			Riia maantee
	Raeküla			– Tori, Sindi
Start of dual carriageway
Häädemeeste	Tõllapulga
	Mereküla			– Valga, Viljandi, Kilingi-Nõmme;
End of dual carriageway
Häädemeeste	Uulu			– Soometsa, Uulu centre
	Metsaküla			– Tahkuranna
	Metsaküla			– Leina
	Rannametsa			– Rannametsa
	Häädemeeste			– Häädemeeste, Soometsa
	Häädemeeste			– Häädemeeste, Kilingi-Nõmme, Valga-Uulu highway
	Penu			– Urissaare, Jaagupi
	Penu			– Kabli, Massiaru
	Majaka			– Treimani
	Ikla			– Ikla
Ikla border crossing with Latvia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access       Proposed

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