The Vuosaari road tunnel needs to be repaired because its safety systems and other equipment that help traffic flow are reaching the end of their life cycle. At the same time, other repairs will be carried out in the tunnel. This will keep the tunnel safe and traffic flowing smoothly in the future.
The Vuosaari road tunnel runs from the Ring Road III interchange on Itäväylä to Vuosaari harbour. The tunnel is about 1.5 kilometres long with two lanes in each direction. Vehicles travelling in different directions drive in their own tunnel tubes. On average, around 7,650 cars and 2,700 heavy goods vehicles pass through the tunnel every day. The tunnel was opened in 2008 and more than half of its traffic is port traffic.
All safety equipment and other tunnel technology will be replaced. This includes fire alarms, smoke extraction, ventilation and alarm systems, lighting, cameras and traffic management systems. At the same time, the tunnel structures will be repaired and the drainage and fire-extinguishing water systems under the tunnel will be replaced.
The project also includes improving the tunnel's alternative route. This route will serve as a primary detour during the tunnel repairs. The detour runs through Itäväylä, Kallvikintie and Niinisaarentie to Vuosaari harbour.
The construction work in the tunnel will begin on 6 January 2026, and for safety reasons, it will require the tunnel to be closed to traffic for approximately one year.
Fintraffic is responsible for tunnel's repairs and for carrying out commissioned improvement work on the detour. The City of Helsinki and the Uusimaa ELY Centre will be responsible for planning improvements to the alternative route.
The work will have a significant impact on motorists and residents in the area, as the tunnel will have to be closed for about one year. During this time, vehicles will use a detour. One of the main objectives is to repair the tunnel in a way that causes as little disruption to traffic as possible. This can be achieved by keeping the tunnel closed only for as long as is absolutely necessary and making the detour as smooth and safe as possible.
The primary detour to the port is via Itäväylä–Kallvikintie–Niinisaarentie–Vuosaari harbour. Based on the tests carried out in autumn 2025, the driving time along the detour from the harbour to the Itäväylä interchange is expected to be approximately 7-8 minutes outside peak hours. During the busiest hours, when there is lorry traffic leaving the harbour, the driving time will be longer than this, which should be taken into account when people plan their schedules.
The closure of the tunnel will increase traffic, especially on Kallvikintie and Niinisaarentie. During 2025, the smooth functioning and safety of the detour have been improved in many places. The largest measures have been the construction of additional lanes at the Itäväylä and Kallvikintie junction and at the Niinisarentie and Kallvikintie roundabout. Smaller improvements have also been made at the junctions of Niinisaarentie and Porslahdentie, and Niinisaarentie and Satamakaari.
The tunnel has to be closed because it is not safe to drive in it when major repairs are being carried out. In addition, strict safety regulations do not allow traffic in a tunnel where safety systems are not in place.
Many options for carrying out the renovation were considered when the construction work was planned. The comparison took extensive account of the safety and accident risks in the tunnel and on the detour during the work, the duration of the work and the costs. All options included long periods when the tunnel would have been closed. When the Vuosaari tunnel was built in the early 2000s, the control systems were implemented in such a way that traffic is not allowed in both directions in one tunnel tube.
When the tunnel is closed, traffic will be directed to the detour running from Itäväylä via Kallvikintie and Niinisaarentie to Vuosaari harbour. Normally, this route serves as a backup route during tunnel maintenance work and is also used for special transports.
There are two ways to reduce traffic problems when the tunnel is closed: keeping the closure time as short as possible and ensuring the functionality of the detour.
The tunnel closure time can be reduced by working in several shifts, by carrying out demolition and construction work at different points in the tunnel at the same time and by ensuring that the necessary experts are available: Special expertise is required in tasks such as the installation, testing and commissioning of the tunnel's technical systems.
The smooth running of the traffic arrangements is best guaranteed by ensuring that the detour functions well. This is measured by travel time. The detour runs along Itäväylä, Kallvikintie and Niinisaarentie to Vuosaari harbour. Some cars are also likely to use other routes. During 2025, the smooth functioning and safety of the detour have been improved in many places. This will keep journey times reasonable, reduce congestion and prevent accidents.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Uusimaa (ELY Centre) and the City of Helsinki have together planned the detour improvements to be implemented, as the route runs both on the state-owned road network and on the city’s street network. Particular attention has been paid to areas where congestion is likely. Although improvements are made, it is advisable to take into account especially the morning and afternoon commuting and the traffic leaving the port when planning schedules.
During 2025, the smooth functioning and safety of the detour have been improved in many places.
Junction of Itäväylä and Kallvikintie:
A new lane has been built for those driving the Itäväylä fairway from the direction of Ring Road III, which will allow those driving directly to continue their journey smoothly past the junction.
Niinisaarentie and Kallvikintie roundabout:
A second lane has been built for those driving directly from the south to the North.
In addition, the Niinisaarentie and Porslahdentie roundabout as well as the Niinisaarentie and Satamakaari intersection have been improved to better meet special transport requirements in future.
Based on the tests carried out in autumn 2025, the driving time along the detour from the harbour to the Itäväylä interchange is expected to be approximately 7-8 minutes outside peak hours.
During the busiest hours, when there is lorry traffic leaving the harbour, the driving time will be longer than this, which should be taken into account when planning schedules. On weekdays, an average of five cargo vessels arrive at Vuosaari harbour. Port traffic is busy on weekdays, and the busiest time is usually between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. The traffic flow towards the port is steadier, but there are traffic peaks in the traffic leaving the harbour, for example, when the vessels Finbo Cargo, Finnstar, Finnlady and Finnmaid arrive at the harbour: the first lorries are often able to depart 15 minutes after the arrival of the vessel. You can anticipate your own schedule and visit the Port of Helsinki website to check the daily timetables of cargo vessels carrying lorries.
Travel time will also be affected by the fact that the detour from Ring Road III to the harbour is about five kilometres long, compared to about three kilometres for the direct link through the tunnel.
There will be hardly any noise and dust from tunnel construction work coming from the tunnel entrances.
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Access to the Mustavuori outdoor recreation area is important for residents of the nearby areas. When traffic runs on the detour, it is a good idea to direct especially children through the central underpass between Vuosaarenpolku and Niinisaarenpolku, which leads from the residential area to the recreational area.
The safety and visibility of the pedestrian crossing over Kallvikintie, located south of Broändanpuro stream, has been improved by means of traffic signs and with a new central island at the pedestrian crossing and the installation of kerbstones at the edge of the road. In most of the other existing crossing points along the detour which have a pedestrian crossings will remain as they are or minor changes will be carried out to improve them.
You can keep an eye on the traffic and driving conditions on the Vuosaari tunnel’s back-up route on Fintraffic App. The images from the road condition camera show you the driving conditions, and traffic announcements bring information about traffic disruptions to your phone in real time.
New! You can now also draw the areas that you want to receive traffic announcements and warnings from on the map view of the application.
The application can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices free of charge.
More information about Fintraffic App is available here.