The improvements of the alternative route of the road tunnel leading to Vuosaari Harbour continue according to plan. Following the winter break, the work will continue on week 8 when gabion baskets are installed in the junction of Itäväylä and Kallvikintie. The work is part of a project that involves, e.g. replacing the technical systems of the Vuosaari road tunnel and repairing tunnel structures. Due to the large-scale work, the tunnel will be closed, with traffic diverted to the alternative route for approximately one year starting from summer 2025.
The alternative route of the Vuosaari road tunnel runs between Itäväylä–Kallvikintie–Niinisaarentie–Vuosaari Harbour. The alternative route will be subject to improvements at five different locations between Itäväylä and Vuosaari Harbour. The most significant improvements include the construction of additional lanes at the junction of Itäväylä and Kallvikintie as well as the Niinisaarentie and Kallvikintie roundabout. These measures are taken in preparation for increased traffic and to improve the flow of traffic during the tunnel renovation. In addition, improvements will be made to the Niinisaarentie and Porslahdentie roundabout as well as the junction of Niinisaarentie and Satamakaari to meet special transport requirements.
The improvements to the alternative route, which started in October, have progressed as planned. The work completed at the junction of Itäväylä and Kallvikintie includes installing overhead signs and widening the road. The excavation of the overtaking lane in the Kallvikintie and Niinisaarentie roundabout has been completed. The realigned section of the Itäväylä pedestrian and cycle path with a crushed aggregate surface is now in use. At the end of February, the work will continue with the installation of gabion baskets in the junction area of Itäväylä and Kallvikintie. Excavation work will also take place on the sites.
Other construction work will resume in the spring once the ground has thawed and is sufficiently load-bearing. “In our estimate, we will be able to continue with the road foundation and asphalting work in April,” says Markus Metsänoja, Project Manager, Fintraffic.
The asphalting, paving and landscaping work will be completed during the spring of 2025.
Background information on the project
The Vuosaari road tunnel runs from the Ring Road III junction on Itäväylä to Vuosaari Harbour. The tunnel is approximately 1.5 kilometres long with two lanes in each direction. Vehicles travelling in different directions drive through their own tunnel tubes. On average, around 7,650 cars and 2,700 heavy goods vehicles pass through the tunnel every day. The tunnel opened in 2008 and more than half of its traffic is port traffic.
During the renovation of Vuosaari road tunnel technical systems project, extensive renovation work related to the life cycle management of tunnel technology and structures will be carried out in the tunnel, the tunnel structures will be repaired and the drainage and fire-extinguishing water systems under the tunnel will be replaced. The extensive demolition and construction work requires the closure of the tunnel, as strict safety regulations do not allow for traffic in the tunnel when safety systems are out of service.
Fintraffic is responsible for the Vuosaari road tunnel's renovation project and for carrying out commissioning improvement work on the alternative route. The City of Helsinki and the Uusimaa ELY Centre will be responsible for planning improvements to the alternative route. The improvement of the alternative route will be implemented by Ylöjärven Kiviset Oy.
Follow the project at www.fintraffic.fi/vuosaarentunneli
