Renovation of TV Tower abruptly halts

The tower was built in the late 1970s when Estonia was part of the U.S.S.R. and Soviet safety standards were less stringent than today’s. Photo by Nick Fatni.

TALLINN — The Tallinn TV Tower’s 90 million krooni (€5.6 million) makeover kicked off in the beginning of June but last week the construction company unexpectedly stopped work and is demanding its contract be canceled.

The KMG Ehitus construction company, which won the public tender competition for the job has already demolished the tower entrance, the pool and some other structures. However, last week the construction company sent a request to the Tallinna Teletorn Foundation to annul the contract.

“KMG Ehitus has turned in a [private_supervisor]request to finish the contract and gave many different reasons why continuing the construction works is not suitable for them,” Riina Roosipuu, director of Foundation Tallinna Teletorn told at Estonian Public Broadcasting’s radio news program. “We reviewed the request and replied that in our opinion those reasons are not justified and currently the contract is active.”

The Tallinn TV Tower, Estonia’s tallest structure and a city icon, was set to reopen in 2011 when Tallinn takes its turn as European Capital of Culture, but if the disagreement with KMG Ehitus isn’t solved then the construction works are unlikely to be completed in time. KMG Ehitus has five days to post their answer or the foundation will conduct another procurement. The foundation said it is considering issuing a fine to the building company if they do not come to a solution for the problem.

“If they will continue their work and will not fall behind the deadlines set in the contract then we don’t have a reason to fine them,” Roosipuu said.

Exactly why the construction company is suddenly no longer up for the job it sought remains a mystery. KMG Ehitus declined to comment on the matter when requested by various media organizations.

Enterprise Estonia’s tourism development center, which is funding the renovation has not paid anything to the construction company yet, as the first phase was agreed to be financed by the company itself.

The 314 m tower was forced to close its doors for the public in November 2007 due to the absence of necessary evacuation exits in case of fire or emergency. The tower was built in the late 1970s when Estonia was part of the U.S.S.R. and Soviet safety standards were less stringent than today’s. It’s still beaming out television signals but the observation deck on the 21st floor is off-limits until the renovations are complete. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]request to finish the contract and gave many different reasons why continuing the construction works is not suitable for them,” Riina Roosipuu, director of Foundation Tallinna Teletorn told at Estonian Public Broadcasting’s radio news program. “We reviewed the request and replied that in our opinion those reasons are not justified and currently the contract is active.”

The Tallinn TV Tower, Estonia’s tallest structure and a city icon, was set to reopen in 2011 when Tallinn takes its turn as European Capital of Culture, but if the disagreement with KMG Ehitus isn’t solved then the construction works are unlikely to be completed in time. KMG Ehitus has five days to post their answer or the foundation will conduct another procurement. The foundation said it is considering issuing a fine to the building company if they do not come to a solution for the problem.

“If they will continue their work and will not fall behind the deadlines set in the contract then we don’t have a reason to fine them,” Roosipuu said.

Exactly why the construction company is suddenly no longer up for the job it sought remains a mystery. KMG Ehitus declined to comment on the matter when requested by various media organizations.

Enterprise Estonia’s tourism development center, which is funding the renovation has not paid anything to the construction company yet, as the first phase was agreed to be financed by the company itself.

The 314 m tower was forced to close its doors for the public in November 2007 due to the absence of necessary evacuation exits in case of fire or emergency. The tower was built in the late 1970s when Estonia was part of the U.S.S.R. and Soviet safety standards were less stringent than today’s. It’s still beaming out television signals but the observation deck on the 21st floor is off-limits until the renovations are complete. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]request to finish the contract and gave many different reasons why continuing the construction works is not suitable for them,” Riina Roosipuu, director of Foundation Tallinna Teletorn told at Estonian Public Broadcasting’s radio news program. “We reviewed the request and replied that in our opinion those reasons are not justified and currently the contract is active.”

The Tallinn TV Tower, Estonia’s tallest structure and a city icon, was set to reopen in 2011 when Tallinn takes its turn as European Capital of Culture, but if the disagreement with KMG Ehitus isn’t solved then the construction works are unlikely to be completed in time. KMG Ehitus has five days to post their answer or the foundation will conduct another procurement. The foundation said it is considering issuing a fine to the building company if they do not come to a solution for the problem.

“If they will continue their work and will not fall behind the deadlines set in the contract then we don’t have a reason to fine them,” Roosipuu said.

Exactly why the construction company is suddenly no longer up for the job it sought remains a mystery. KMG Ehitus declined to comment on the matter when requested by various media organizations.

Enterprise Estonia’s tourism development center, which is funding the renovation has not paid anything to the construction company yet, as the first phase was agreed to be financed by the company itself.

The 314 m tower was forced to close its doors for the public in November 2007 due to the absence of necessary evacuation exits in case of fire or emergency. The tower was built in the late 1970s when Estonia was part of the U.S.S.R. and Soviet safety standards were less stringent than today’s. It’s still beaming out television signals but the observation deck on the 21st floor is off-limits until the renovations are complete. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]request to finish the contract and gave many different reasons why continuing the construction works is not suitable for them,” Riina Roosipuu, director of Foundation Tallinna Teletorn told at Estonian Public Broadcasting’s radio news program. “We reviewed the request and replied that in our opinion those reasons are not justified and currently the contract is active.”

The Tallinn TV Tower, Estonia’s tallest structure and a city icon, was set to reopen in 2011 when Tallinn takes its turn as European Capital of Culture, but if the disagreement with KMG Ehitus isn’t solved then the construction works are unlikely to be completed in time. KMG Ehitus has five days to post their answer or the foundation will conduct another procurement. The foundation said it is considering issuing a fine to the building company if they do not come to a solution for the problem.

“If they will continue their work and will not fall behind the deadlines set in the contract then we don’t have a reason to fine them,” Roosipuu said.

Exactly why the construction company is suddenly no longer up for the job it sought remains a mystery. KMG Ehitus declined to comment on the matter when requested by various media organizations.

Enterprise Estonia’s tourism development center, which is funding the renovation has not paid anything to the construction company yet, as the first phase was agreed to be financed by the company itself.

The 314 m tower was forced to close its doors for the public in November 2007 due to the absence of necessary evacuation exits in case of fire or emergency. The tower was built in the late 1970s when Estonia was part of the U.S.S.R. and Soviet safety standards were less stringent than today’s. It’s still beaming out television signals but the observation deck on the 21st floor is off-limits until the renovations are complete. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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