Improvements to the alternative route for the Vuosaari road tunnel have mostly been completed, and the next step is to test the functioning of the route with traffic from 16 to 18 June. During the testing, the tunnel will be closed, and traffic will be directed to the improved alternative route. Planning for the renovation of the tunnel's technical systems is also progressing: planning of the renovation phases is under way, and as the work progresses, the schedule for the tunnel's closure later this year will be confirmed.
Improvements to the alternative route for the Vuosaari road tunnel have been completed, and the functioning of the route will be tested from 16 June at 22:00 to 18 June at 22:00. The route runs along Itäväylä, Kallvikintie and Niinisaarentie to Vuosaari Harbour. The purpose of the testing is to ensure that trucks can also use the route without problems during the tunnel renovation that will begin later this year. The Vuosaari tunnel will be closed to traffic during the testing, and all traffic will be directed to the alternative route. The testing itself will not cause any harm to traffic on the alternative route.
Testing ensures the functioning of the route
"Testing the alternative route helps us ensure that larger vehicles can turn smoothly at the junctions and pass through the roundabouts. We will also examine the smooth running and safety of traffic on the route in general, paying particular attention to the improved sections. The route will be tested in several ways, for example by measuring travel times, filming the flow of traffic and driving the route several times at different times of the day," says Project Manager Jukka Värri from Fintraffic.
Several improvements have been implemented on the alternative route in recent months, the most significant being the construction of additional lanes at the Itäväylä and Kallvikintie junction and the Niinisaarientie and Kallvikintie roundabout. In addition, the Niinisaarentie and Porslahdentie roundabout and the Niinisaarentie and Satamakaari junction have been improved to meet special transport requirements.
The tests will determine, among other things, how smooth the connection is from Ring Road III to Itäväylä and how the new lanes at the Itäväylä and Kallvikintie junction work. Traffic flow will also be monitored at the Niinisarentie roundabout, at the Satamankaari junction and on Rahtarinkatu and Kallvikintie.
The schedule for the tunnel's closure will be specified at the beginning of July
The renovation of the Vuosaari road tunnel technical systems has transitioned to the pre-contract development phase where the phasing, implementation and schedule of the work will be specified. The development phase ends at the start of July, at which point the schedule for the tunnel's closure will have been determined. The aim is to keep the closure period as short as possible and to minimise the work's impact on port traffic and residents in the area. According to the current estimate, the tunnel will be closed to traffic for about 12 months at the end of the year. During this time, traffic passes through the improved alternative route.
"Preparatory work outside the tunnel begins in the late summer, and the work has now been planned to cause as minimal disruption to traffic as possible. This way, we can postpone the closing of the tunnel until the end of the year, which means that there's no overlap with the renovation of the Vuosaari metro bridge and the resulting interruption in metro traffic," Jukka Värri continues.
The tunnel renovation will be carried out by a consortium made up of Destia and Normivalaistus. The contract includes replacing all the tunnel's technical systems at the end of their life cycle, such as fire alarms, smoke extraction, ventilation, lighting as well as camera and traffic management systems. In addition, the tunnel structures will be repaired and the drainage and fire-extinguishing water systems under the tunnel will be replaced. The extensive demolition and renovation work will require the closure of the tunnel, as strict safety regulations do not allow for traffic in the tunnel when safety systems are out of service.
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.
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.
