Vuosaari road tunnel repairs to begin in spring 2025 - planning progressing on schedule
The schedule and method of implementation for the renewal of technical systems in the Vuosaari road tunnel have been established: work in the tunnel will begin with the dismantling of old systems in spring 2025. The tunnel will be closed to traffic for the duration of the repairs, and it has been estimated that it will be closed for eleven months. For the duration of the work, an alternative route will be in use running between Itäväylä–Kallvikintie–Niinisaarentie–Vuosaari harbour, and improvements will be made to this alternative route before work in the tunnel begins. The project is currently undergoing a construction planning phase, during which the order in which work will be performed and the schedule will be further specified.
"One of our most important goals has been to find a way to implement the renovation, which will cause as little disruption to traffic as possible. However, 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. Next, we will work with contractors to find ways in which the construction project itself and its various work phases will progress as efficiently as possible," explains Fintraffic Service Director Riku Suursalmi.
Market dialogues on the tunnel renovation will take place in May and June, and the actual tendering process will be published at the end of the year. In addition, the improvement of the tunnel's alternative route will be put out to tender during the summer.
Functioning of the alternative route to be ensured before repairs on the tunnel begin
While the tunnel is closed, the primary connection to the port will be the tunnel's current alternative route Itäväylä–Kallvikintie–Niinisaarentie–Vuosaari harbour, and the route will be improved at several points before the tunnel's renovation begins. The functioning of the alternative route will also be tested with real traffic before the repair work on the tunnel begins. The improvement work will begin at the end of 2024.
The efficient flow of traffic along the alternative route and its safety will be improved, especially at junctions and pedestrian crossings, so that the route will remain functional even as traffic volumes increase. The most significant measures will be the construction of additional lanes at the Itäväylä and Kallvikintie junction and the Niinisarentie and Kallvikintie roundabout. Improvements will also be made at the Niinisaarentie and Porslahdentie junction and the Niinisaarentie and Satamakaari junction, so that they will better serve special transports.
Tunnel safety to guide operations during renovation
During the general planning of the project, a number of options for phasing the work were examined, and some of the things the comparison of the implementation options took extensively into account include safety and accident risks during construction in the tunnel and on the alternative route, the total duration and costs of the project. All alternatives included long-term closures of the tunnel. The chosen implementation method allows efficient, simultaneous work in both tunnel tubes. Traffic arrangements will also remain unchanged throughout the project.
Fintraffic is responsible for the Vuosaari road tunnel's repair 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. During the planning of the project, close dialogue has been held with the Port of Helsinki and other key actors in the area. The dissemination of information on the future renovation of the tunnel to residents, companies and other actors in the area started already in autumn 2023 so that different parties can take the impacts of the project into account as early as possible.
Background
The traffic management and safety systems in the road tunnel leading to the Port of Vuosaari in Helsinki are coming to the end of their life cycle and are to be renewed. During the renewal of the Vuosaari road tunnel's technical systems, renovation work linked with the life cycle of the tunnel's technology and structures will be carried out, which will include the renewal of the tunnel's fire alarm, smoke removal, ventilation, sprinkler water, and fault notification systems, and lighting, and camera and traffic management systems.
Other work will include the repair of tunnel structures and the renewal of the drying and sprinkler water systems running beneath the tunnel. Meanwhile, a modern problem detection system capable of learning, and variable energy-efficient LED illumination will be introduced, as well as tunnel fans for improved air quality and smoke removal.
Opened in 2008, the Vuosaari road tunnel runs from the Ring Road III interchange on Itäväylä to Vuosaari harbour. More than half of the traffic in the tunnel is harbour traffic. The tunnel is about 1.5 kilometres long with two separate two-lane tubes running in opposite directions. The Vuosaari tunnel's control systems were created at the beginning of the 2000s when the tunnel was built in a way that does not allow for two-way traffic in a single tunnel tube.
General information on tunnel safety: long road tunnels must also comply with safety regulations during repair work if there is traffic in the tunnel. The tunnel must have a functioning camera surveillance system for detecting fires and accidents from the traffic centre, and rescue vehicles must always be able to access the tunnel. The connecting corridors between tunnel tubes must also be kept accessible as escape route. In the event of a fire, it must be possible to blow the smoke out of the tunnel and extinguishing water must be available.
