In December 1939, in connection with the outbreak of the Soviet-Finnish war, the Government of the USSR issued a task for the accelerated construction of the Petrozavodsk-Suoyarvi railway to transport equipment and food to the front line.
After receiving the order, within one day, 7 complex parties, consisting of employees of Lentransproekt (since 1951 - Lengiprotrans), went to the place of work. The surveys were carried out in difficult conditions: a short northern day, large snow cover, frosts of -40 degrees and more, periodic shelling from enemy aircraft.
Compilation of a comprehensive project and development of drawings was carried out by a cameral group in Petrozavodsk. The construction of the line followed the survey as the track profile was ready. In places of deep swamps, embankments were erected on elania, bridges were built across the rivers on ridge supports with a metal superstructure and small bridges on wooden piles. After the completion of the design and survey work, some of the specialists took a direct part in the construction of the road.
The line was equipped with the simplest devices that meet the needs of wartime: these are overhead communication lines, telephone communications, semaphore signaling, an electric wedge system, and semi-automatic blocking.
As a result, the Petrozavodsk-Suoyarvi railway was built in winter conditions in 3.5 months, taking into account the survey period. In March 1940, temporary traffic was opened on the line.
For selfless work and feat, many surveyors and designers were awarded government awards and badges of the People's Commissariat of Railways of the USSR.
