diff --git a/lib-sql/functions/interpolation.sql b/lib-sql/functions/interpolation.sql
index 96a105ae..fb822033 100644
--- a/lib-sql/functions/interpolation.sql
+++ b/lib-sql/functions/interpolation.sql
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ BEGIN
 
   IF parent_place_id is null THEN
     FOR location IN SELECT place_id FROM placex
-        WHERE ST_DWithin(geom, placex.geometry, 0.001) and placex.rank_search = 26
+        WHERE ST_DWithin(geom, placex.geometry, 0.001)
+              and placex.rank_search = 26
+              and placex.osm_type = 'W' -- needed for index selection
         ORDER BY CASE WHEN ST_GeometryType(geom) = 'ST_Line' THEN
                   (ST_distance(placex.geometry, ST_LineInterpolatePoint(geom,0))+
                   ST_distance(placex.geometry, ST_LineInterpolatePoint(geom,0.5))+
diff --git a/lib-sql/functions/placex_triggers.sql b/lib-sql/functions/placex_triggers.sql
index 6c23fd67..a2276f07 100644
--- a/lib-sql/functions/placex_triggers.sql
+++ b/lib-sql/functions/placex_triggers.sql
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ BEGIN
         SELECT place_id FROM placex
          WHERE bbox && geometry AND _ST_Covers(geometry, ST_Centroid(bbox))
                AND rank_address between 5 and 25
+               AND ST_GeometryType(geometry) in ('ST_Polygon','ST_MultiPolygon')
          ORDER BY rank_address desc
       LOOP
         RETURN location.place_id;
@@ -212,6 +213,7 @@ BEGIN
         SELECT place_id FROM placex
          WHERE bbox && geometry AND _ST_Covers(geometry, ST_Centroid(bbox))
                AND rank_address between 5 and 25
+               AND ST_GeometryType(geometry) in ('ST_Polygon','ST_MultiPolygon')
         ORDER BY rank_address desc
       LOOP
         RETURN location.place_id;
@@ -275,7 +277,9 @@ BEGIN
 
   -- If extratags has a place tag, look for linked nodes by their place type.
   -- Area and node still have to have the same name.
-  IF bnd.extratags ? 'place' and bnd_name is not null THEN
+  IF bnd.extratags ? 'place' and bnd.extratags->'place' != 'postcode'
+     and bnd_name is not null
+  THEN
     FOR linked_placex IN
       SELECT * FROM placex
       WHERE (position(lower(name->'name') in bnd_name) > 0
@@ -284,7 +288,6 @@ BEGIN
         AND placex.osm_type = 'N'
         AND (placex.linked_place_id is null or placex.linked_place_id = bnd.place_id)
         AND placex.rank_search < 26 -- needed to select the right index
-        AND placex.type != 'postcode'
         AND ST_Covers(bnd.geometry, placex.geometry)
     LOOP
       {% if debug %}RAISE WARNING 'Found type-matching place node %', linked_placex.osm_id;{% endif %}
@@ -846,7 +849,8 @@ BEGIN
       FROM placex
       WHERE osm_type = 'R' and class = 'boundary' and type = 'administrative'
             and admin_level < NEW.admin_level and admin_level > 3
-            and rank_address > 0
+            and rank_address between 1 and 25 -- for index selection
+            and ST_GeometryType(geometry) in ('ST_Polygon','ST_MultiPolygon') -- for index selection
             and geometry && NEW.centroid and _ST_Covers(geometry, NEW.centroid)
       ORDER BY admin_level desc LIMIT 1
     LOOP
diff --git a/lib-sql/indices.sql b/lib-sql/indices.sql
index 9bbc7527..b1396034 100644
--- a/lib-sql/indices.sql
+++ b/lib-sql/indices.sql
@@ -10,62 +10,73 @@
 
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_place_addressline_address_place_id
   ON place_addressline USING BTREE (address_place_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
-
+---
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_placex_rank_search
   ON placex USING BTREE (rank_search) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
-
+---
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_placex_rank_address
   ON placex USING BTREE (rank_address) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
-
+---
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_placex_parent_place_id
   ON placex USING BTREE (parent_place_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}}
   WHERE parent_place_id IS NOT NULL;
-
+---
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_placex_geometry ON placex
+  USING GIST (geometry) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
+---
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_placex_geometry_reverse_lookupPolygon
   ON placex USING gist (geometry) {{db.tablespace.search_index}}
   WHERE St_GeometryType(geometry) in ('ST_Polygon', 'ST_MultiPolygon')
     AND rank_address between 4 and 25 AND type != 'postcode'
     AND name is not null AND indexed_status = 0 AND linked_place_id is null;
-
+---
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_osmline_parent_place_id
   ON location_property_osmline USING BTREE (parent_place_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}}
   WHERE parent_place_id is not null;
-
+---
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_osmline_parent_osm_id
   ON location_property_osmline USING BTREE (osm_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
-
+---
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_postcode_postcode
   ON location_postcode USING BTREE (postcode) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
 
+{% if drop %}
+---
+  DROP INDEX IF EXISTS idx_placex_geometry_address_area_candidates;
+  DROP INDEX IF EXISTS idx_placex_geometry_buildings;
+  DROP INDEX IF EXISTS idx_placex_geometry_lower_rank_ways;
+  DROP INDEX IF EXISTS idx_placex_wikidata;
+  DROP INDEX IF EXISTS idx_placex_rank_address_sector;
+  DROP INDEX IF EXISTS idx_placex_rank_boundaries_sector;
+{% else %}
 -- Indices only needed for updating.
-
-{% if not drop %}
-  CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_placex_pendingsector
-    ON placex USING BTREE (rank_address,geometry_sector) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
-    WHERE indexed_status > 0;
-
+---
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_location_area_country_place_id
     ON location_area_country USING BTREE (place_id) {{db.tablespace.address_index}};
-
+---
   CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_place_osm_unique
     ON place USING btree(osm_id, osm_type, class, type) {{db.tablespace.address_index}};
 {% endif %}
 
 -- Indices only needed for search.
-
 {% if 'search_name' in db.tables %}
+---
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_search_name_nameaddress_vector
     ON search_name USING GIN (nameaddress_vector) WITH (fastupdate = off) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
+---
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_search_name_name_vector
     ON search_name USING GIN (name_vector) WITH (fastupdate = off) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
+---
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_search_name_centroid
     ON search_name USING GIST (centroid) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
 
   {% if postgres.has_index_non_key_column %}
+---
     CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_placex_housenumber
       ON placex USING btree (parent_place_id)
       INCLUDE (housenumber) {{db.tablespace.search_index}}
       WHERE housenumber is not null;
+---
     CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_osmline_parent_osm_id_with_hnr
       ON location_property_osmline USING btree(parent_place_id)
       INCLUDE (startnumber, endnumber) {{db.tablespace.search_index}}
diff --git a/lib-sql/tables.sql b/lib-sql/tables.sql
index 2ad5243c..7ef74349 100644
--- a/lib-sql/tables.sql
+++ b/lib-sql/tables.sql
@@ -137,7 +137,9 @@ CREATE TABLE place_addressline (
   ) {{db.tablespace.search_data}};
 CREATE INDEX idx_place_addressline_place_id on place_addressline USING BTREE (place_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
 
-drop table if exists placex;
+---------  PLACEX - storage for all indexed places -----------------
+
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS placex;
 CREATE TABLE placex (
   place_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
   parent_place_id BIGINT,
@@ -157,24 +159,66 @@ CREATE TABLE placex (
   postcode TEXT,
   centroid GEOMETRY(Geometry, 4326)
   ) {{db.tablespace.search_data}};
+
 CREATE UNIQUE INDEX idx_place_id ON placex USING BTREE (place_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
-CREATE INDEX idx_placex_osmid ON placex USING BTREE (osm_type, osm_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
-CREATE INDEX idx_placex_linked_place_id ON placex USING BTREE (linked_place_id) {{db.tablespace.address_index}} WHERE linked_place_id IS NOT NULL;
-CREATE INDEX idx_placex_rank_search ON placex USING BTREE (rank_search, geometry_sector) {{db.tablespace.address_index}};
-CREATE INDEX idx_placex_geometry ON placex USING GIST (geometry) {{db.tablespace.search_index}};
+{% for osm_type in ('N', 'W', 'R') %}
+CREATE INDEX idx_placex_osmid_{{osm_type | lower}} ON placex
+  USING BTREE (osm_id) {{db.tablespace.search_index}}
+  WHERE osm_type = '{{osm_type}}';
+{% endfor %}
+
+-- Usage: - removing linkage status on update
+--        - lookup linked places for /details
+CREATE INDEX idx_placex_linked_place_id ON placex
+  USING BTREE (linked_place_id) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
+  WHERE linked_place_id IS NOT NULL;
+
+-- Usage: - check that admin boundaries do not overtake each other rank-wise
+--        - check that place node in a admin boundary with the same address level
+--        - boundary is not completely contained in a place area
+--        - parenting of large-area or unparentable features
 CREATE INDEX idx_placex_geometry_address_area_candidates ON placex
   USING gist (geometry) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
   WHERE rank_address between 1 and 25
         and ST_GeometryType(geometry) in ('ST_Polygon','ST_MultiPolygon');
+
+-- Usage: - POI is within building with housenumber
 CREATE INDEX idx_placex_geometry_buildings ON placex
   USING {{postgres.spgist_geom}} (geometry) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
   WHERE address is not null and rank_search = 30
         and ST_GeometryType(geometry) in ('ST_Polygon','ST_MultiPolygon');
+
+-- Usage: - linking of similar named places to boundaries
+--        - linking of place nodes with same type to boundaries
+--        - lookupPolygon()
 CREATE INDEX idx_placex_geometry_placenode ON placex
   USING {{postgres.spgist_geom}} (geometry) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
   WHERE osm_type = 'N' and rank_search < 26
-        and class = 'place' and type != 'postcode' and linked_place_id is null;
-CREATE INDEX idx_placex_wikidata on placex USING BTREE ((extratags -> 'wikidata')) {{db.tablespace.address_index}} WHERE extratags ? 'wikidata' and class = 'place' and osm_type = 'N' and rank_search < 26;
+        and class = 'place' and type != 'postcode';
+
+-- Usage: - is node part of a way?
+--        - find parent of interpolation spatially
+CREATE INDEX idx_placex_geometry_lower_rank_ways ON placex
+  USING {{postgres.spgist_geom}} (geometry) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
+  WHERE osm_type = 'W' and rank_search >= 26;
+
+-- Usage: - linking place nodes by wikidata tag to boundaries
+CREATE INDEX idx_placex_wikidata on placex
+  USING BTREE ((extratags -> 'wikidata')) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
+  WHERE extratags ? 'wikidata' and class = 'place'
+        and osm_type = 'N' and rank_search < 26;
+
+-- The following two indexes function as a todo list for indexing.
+
+CREATE INDEX idx_placex_rank_address_sector ON placex
+  USING BTREE (rank_address, geometry_sector) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
+  WHERE indexed_status > 0;
+
+CREATE INDEX idx_placex_rank_boundaries_sector ON placex
+  USING BTREE (rank_search, geometry_sector) {{db.tablespace.address_index}}
+  WHERE class = 'boundary' and type = 'administrative'
+        and indexed_status > 0;
+
 
 DROP SEQUENCE IF EXISTS seq_place;
 CREATE SEQUENCE seq_place start 1;
diff --git a/nominatim/clicmd/setup.py b/nominatim/clicmd/setup.py
index 6ffa7afb..29724433 100644
--- a/nominatim/clicmd/setup.py
+++ b/nominatim/clicmd/setup.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import psutil
 
 from nominatim.config import Configuration
-from nominatim.db.connection import connect, Connection
+from nominatim.db.connection import connect
 from nominatim.db import status, properties
 from nominatim.tokenizer.base import AbstractTokenizer
 from nominatim.version import version_str
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ class SetupAll:
         from ..tools import database_import, refresh, postcodes, freeze
         from ..indexer.indexer import Indexer
 
+        num_threads = args.threads or psutil.cpu_count() or 1
+
         country_info.setup_country_config(args.config)
 
         if args.continue_at is None:
@@ -109,8 +111,7 @@ class SetupAll:
                 database_import.truncate_data_tables(conn)
 
             LOG.warning('Load data into placex table')
-            database_import.load_data(args.config.get_libpq_dsn(),
-                                      args.threads or psutil.cpu_count() or 1)
+            database_import.load_data(args.config.get_libpq_dsn(), num_threads)
 
         LOG.warning("Setting up tokenizer")
         tokenizer = self._get_tokenizer(args.continue_at, args.config)
@@ -121,18 +122,15 @@ class SetupAll:
                                        args.project_dir, tokenizer)
 
         if args.continue_at is None or args.continue_at in ('load-data', 'indexing'):
-            if args.continue_at is not None and args.continue_at != 'load-data':
-                with connect(args.config.get_libpq_dsn()) as conn:
-                    self._create_pending_index(conn, args.config.TABLESPACE_ADDRESS_INDEX)
             LOG.warning('Indexing places')
-            indexer = Indexer(args.config.get_libpq_dsn(), tokenizer,
-                              args.threads or psutil.cpu_count() or 1)
+            indexer = Indexer(args.config.get_libpq_dsn(), tokenizer, num_threads)
             indexer.index_full(analyse=not args.index_noanalyse)
 
         LOG.warning('Post-process tables')
         with connect(args.config.get_libpq_dsn()) as conn:
             database_import.create_search_indices(conn, args.config,
-                                                  drop=args.no_updates)
+                                                  drop=args.no_updates,
+                                                  threads=num_threads)
             LOG.warning('Create search index for default country names.')
             country_info.create_country_names(conn, tokenizer,
                                               args.config.get_str_list('LANGUAGES'))
@@ -188,27 +186,6 @@ class SetupAll:
         return tokenizer_factory.get_tokenizer_for_db(config)
 
 
-    def _create_pending_index(self, conn: Connection, tablespace: str) -> None:
-        """ Add a supporting index for finding places still to be indexed.
-
-            This index is normally created at the end of the import process
-            for later updates. When indexing was partially done, then this
-            index can greatly improve speed going through already indexed data.
-        """
-        if conn.index_exists('idx_placex_pendingsector'):
-            return
-
-        with conn.cursor() as cur:
-            LOG.warning('Creating support index')
-            if tablespace:
-                tablespace = 'TABLESPACE ' + tablespace
-            cur.execute(f"""CREATE INDEX idx_placex_pendingsector
-                            ON placex USING BTREE (rank_address,geometry_sector)
-                            {tablespace} WHERE indexed_status > 0
-                         """)
-        conn.commit()
-
-
     def _finalize_database(self, dsn: str, offline: bool) -> None:
         """ Determine the database date and set the status accordingly.
         """
diff --git a/nominatim/db/sql_preprocessor.py b/nominatim/db/sql_preprocessor.py
index b450422d..31b4a8c0 100644
--- a/nominatim/db/sql_preprocessor.py
+++ b/nominatim/db/sql_preprocessor.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from typing import Set, Dict, Any
 import jinja2
 
 from nominatim.db.connection import Connection
+from nominatim.db.async_connection import WorkerPool
 from nominatim.config import Configuration
 
 def _get_partitions(conn: Connection) -> Set[int]:
@@ -96,3 +97,21 @@ class SQLPreprocessor:
         with conn.cursor() as cur:
             cur.execute(sql)
         conn.commit()
+
+
+    def run_parallel_sql_file(self, dsn: str, name: str, num_threads: int = 1,
+                              **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        """ Execure the given SQL files using parallel asynchronous connections.
+            The keyword arguments may supply additional parameters for
+            preprocessing.
+
+            After preprocessing the SQL code is cut at lines containing only
+            '---'. Each chunk is sent to one of the `num_threads` workers.
+        """
+        sql = self.env.get_template(name).render(**kwargs)
+
+        parts = sql.split('\n---\n')
+
+        with WorkerPool(dsn, num_threads) as pool:
+            for part in parts:
+                pool.next_free_worker().perform(part)
diff --git a/nominatim/tools/check_database.py b/nominatim/tools/check_database.py
index 80358f20..437775db 100644
--- a/nominatim/tools/check_database.py
+++ b/nominatim/tools/check_database.py
@@ -114,9 +114,10 @@ def _get_indexes(conn: Connection) -> List[str]:
             indexes.extend(('idx_placex_housenumber',
                             'idx_osmline_parent_osm_id_with_hnr'))
     if conn.table_exists('place'):
-        indexes.extend(('idx_placex_pendingsector',
-                        'idx_location_area_country_place_id',
-                        'idx_place_osm_unique'))
+        indexes.extend(('idx_location_area_country_place_id',
+                        'idx_place_osm_unique',
+                        'idx_placex_rank_address_sector',
+                        'idx_placex_rank_boundaries_sector'))
 
     return indexes
 
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ def check_tokenizer(_: Connection, config: Configuration) -> CheckResult:
 def check_existance_wikipedia(conn: Connection, _: Configuration) -> CheckResult:
     """ Checking for wikipedia/wikidata data
     """
-    if not conn.table_exists('search_name'):
+    if not conn.table_exists('search_name') or not conn.table_exists('place'):
         return CheckState.NOT_APPLICABLE
 
     with conn.cursor() as cur:
diff --git a/nominatim/tools/database_import.py b/nominatim/tools/database_import.py
index 447e90f1..f6ebe90d 100644
--- a/nominatim/tools/database_import.py
+++ b/nominatim/tools/database_import.py
@@ -225,7 +225,8 @@ def load_data(dsn: str, threads: int) -> None:
             cur.execute('ANALYSE')
 
 
-def create_search_indices(conn: Connection, config: Configuration, drop: bool = False) -> None:
+def create_search_indices(conn: Connection, config: Configuration,
+                          drop: bool = False, threads: int = 1) -> None:
     """ Create tables that have explicit partitioning.
     """
 
@@ -243,4 +244,5 @@ def create_search_indices(conn: Connection, config: Configuration, drop: bool =
 
     sql = SQLPreprocessor(conn, config)
 
-    sql.run_sql_file(conn, 'indices.sql', drop=drop)
+    sql.run_parallel_sql_file(config.get_libpq_dsn(),
+                              'indices.sql', min(8, threads), drop=drop)
diff --git a/test/python/cli/test_cmd_import.py b/test/python/cli/test_cmd_import.py
index d545c760..737c4e5c 100644
--- a/test/python/cli/test_cmd_import.py
+++ b/test/python/cli/test_cmd_import.py
@@ -105,11 +105,8 @@ class TestCliImportWithDb:
         for mock in mocks:
             assert mock.called == 1, "Mock '{}' not called".format(mock.func_name)
 
-        assert temp_db_conn.index_exists('idx_placex_pendingsector')
-
         # Calling it again still works for the index
         assert self.call_nominatim('import', '--continue', 'indexing') == 0
-        assert temp_db_conn.index_exists('idx_placex_pendingsector')
 
 
     def test_import_continue_postprocess(self, mock_func_factory):