Highways in Estonia are the main transport network in Estonia. The Estonian national classification includes several classes of highways:
Other than these, the national road classification includes the following categories which may also be referred to as highways in a general sense, with decreasing order of priority (and applicability of the term highway):
Main and support routes are designated with 1-2 digit numbers 1-99. Side routes are designated with 4-5 digit numbers, where the first two digits is a county code (11-25 for 15 counties), followed with three digits 101-999.
In addition to state highways, there are 23 882 km of local roads and around 48 999 km of private and forest roads. The total Estonian road network is 89 871 km long.
Under earlier legislation, roads were classified according to traffic density into seven classes - "motorway" and classes I-VI to establish design standards (such as cross-section width). This classification was abolished in 2023.
The backbone of the Estonian national route system, national main routes (põhimaanteed) make up a network of 1603 kilometres of road, amounting to 10% of the total national road network. The traffic numbers however make up nearly 50% of the Estonian road network's traffic volumes. The highest AADT's are around Tallinn, on the T1 between Loo and Maardu, on the T2 between Tallinn and Jüri, and on the T4 between Laagri and Kanama (the highest AADT on Estonian national routes at 31,000). A main route is defined as a highway that connects the capital with other large cities or connects large cities and the capital with major ports, railway points and border crossings. Currently there are 12 separate main routes, which are marked with 1âÂÂ2 white digits on a red shield. The speed limits on Estonian main routes are 110 or 120 on 2+2 sections and 90 on regular roads (on newer sections of road, these are adjusted according to conditions by electronic speed limit signs).
The main routes are the only roads with I class highways. The total amount is 234.6 kilometres, found on the T1, T2, T4 and T11. This number will enlarge significantly with further upgrades of the T4 in several sections between ÃÂäsmäe and Pärnu, T2 Between Mäo and Tartu to I class highway. There are currently no motorways in Estonia, however 45,3 kilometres of the T2 is restricted-access I class highway. Ten main routes are a part of TEN-T, six routes are a part of the International E-road network. The routes E263, E67, E20, E264 and E265 run through Estonia.
The highways are maintained by the Estonian Road Administration outside city limits. Inside cities and towns, the roads are maintained by the city government.
Support routes (tugimaanteed) are the second highest classification in the Estonian national route system. They make up a network of 2,405 kilometres of road, amounting to 15% of the total road network. A support route is defined as a highway, that connects towns with other towns and main routes. Currently there are 77 separate support routes. The support routes are marked with 2 black digits on a yellow shield.
Secondary roads make up the vast majority of Estonia's road network and form the backbone of rural transport. There are a total of 1785 secondary roads in the registry, the shortest of them 70 metres and the longest 76,8 kilometres long. The county codes used in the numbering system are as follows:
Estonia is a part of the UNECE, and therefore also has numerous E-roads running through it. The E-roads in Estonia form a network on top of the main routes and are usually signposted on all signs. They make up a network of of road. Currently there are six separate European routes in Estonia.