Road architecture and greenery

The preserved road architecture of Postitee dates from the 20th century.

Bridges
Until the early 1930s the only permanent bridge along the Postitee was the simple single-opening bridge built of quarry stone at Tilleorg, which crossed the Ahja River. This type of bridge was then replaced by a type with a standard construction of reinforced concrete openings and embankment columns made of granite. Although in terms of size and architecture the bridges along the Postitee are not the most remarkable in Estonia, they are still valuable examples of structures untouched by World War II.

Picket stones
To keep an accurate account of road maintenance work, a picket stone was placed every 200 metres between the kilometre stakes in the 1920s. Some of these signposts remain standing on the Postitee today.

Stalinist recreational areas
The beginning of the 1950s is known in the history of Estonian roads as the era of ‘road decorating’. One of the outputs of Stalinist architecture was the creation of large and impressive recreational areas, which were generally situated at the intersections of major roads. The spirit of the period required that concrete sculptures and monuments, mostly of a political nature, be erected there. These areas also included bus pavilions and benches. However, not a single concrete sculpture has been preserved.

Greenery
In terms of greenery, the most notable section of Postitee is the one between Ihamaru and Puskaru. Barely 7.5 km long, this stretch of road showcases fir hedges, maple and birch alleys and poplars and apple trees planted to a plan. This richness of species is notable in the context of Estonia as a whole.

Old sections of road
The old sections of the road at Sikajala, Ridali and Kirumpää – which were not altered during the straightening of the road in the 1960s – are good examples of the original design of Postitee.