«Russalka» faces X-ray examination

Photo: Arno Saar / Õhtuleht

Road construction soon to begin has heritage conservationists anxious about nearby «Russalka» statue aged over a hundred years possibly being too fragile. To determine the danger level, X-ray will be applied. 

National Heritage Board chief inspector Linda Lainvoo says they will have to check the inner structure of «Russalka» and the way metal part is fastened to the stone foundation.

Before the nearby intersection undergoes major reconstruction this year, the stature – probably as soon as in March – will undergo thorough examination. For the work Tax and Customs Board will loan a mobile X-ray set to provide 3D image of the interior.

While Ms Lainvoo doubts the procedure will pose a major piece of entertainment for townsfolk, it will definitely be interesting to get the machine up into the desired height. «Come to think of it, the metal part is rather high up there,» she admits.

The machine to be applied is in its everydayness mainly used to detect illegal stuff in vehicles crossing our borders.

But it has had a stint at historical issues before – a few years ago, to help see into insides of a main altar at St Nicholas Church. But this was peanuts compared to what lies ahead as «Russalka» is bigger by far.

«We are hoping to get the sufficient information of any need to additionally prop up the statute while the road construction is going on etc,» said Ms Lainvoo.