Quite often street works entail something other than the actual construction and improvement of streets. Many water, sewer and district heating pipes and electricity and telecommunications cables run underneath the street surface. Helsinki Energy, Helsinki Water and private companies and telecommunications operators often commission pipe and cable works.

All works carried out in street areas require a permit. The permits are issued by the Public Works Department. The permit process and related monitoring are aimed at ensuring that the use of the street is also safe during the undertaking and that the surroundings of the site are kept reasonably clean. Upon completion of the work, an inspection is carried out to make sure that the street is in a condition comparable to the original. More information on this subject may be found on the Permits page.

Selection of sites

In the annual budget, the City Council determines the amount of money to be spent on street construction and renovation during that year. Based on this, the PWD Street and Park Division select the streets to be constructed or renovated. The construction programme is approved by the Public Works Committee.

New streets are mainly built in new or expanding residential districts. An old street is renovated, when its condition is no longer adequate with regards to use, safety or general appearance.

Current sites

Sites at which work is carried out during the year are listed on the PWD website.

Public Works Department construction sites