The construction of the bridge will start at Maria Park, which will be situated to the west of Baana in the future, the ramp leading there from Baana, and the western end of Lastenkodinkatu. At the same time, the street parking spaces at the end of Lastenkodinkatu will be removed and the area will be turned into a square. The project will also include the construction of an emergency exit route on the Maria side and the construction of the Maria Park. Municipal infrastructure will be constructed in the Baana area between the Ruoholahti bridge and the Lastenkodinkatu bridge, and parallel to the Ruoholahti bridge between Baana and Mechelininkatu.
The construction will serve the new Growth Company Campus
A new Growth Company Campus will be built in the southern part of the Maria Hospital area. The area is already home to the start-up hub Maria 01, which together with the future campus will form a major growth company and start-up area on a European scale – the Helsinki Growth District. The district will provide space for several hundred operators and around 5,000 employees. New pedestrian and cycling connections will be built to facilitate access to the district.
Baana will remain open during the works
The construction of the bridge will start in spring 2024. The exact start date will be announced later. The bridge is expected to be ready in summer 2025, when it will initially serve as an emergency exit route until the construction of the Maria area has progressed to the point where it is possible to cycle and walk through the area unobstructed.
Baana will remain open during the construction work. A temporary support structure for the bridge will be erected on Baana around May, with access openings for cyclists, pedestrians and emergency services traffic. Routing on Baana will change during the work, so pedestrians and cyclists will be guided by signs where necessary.
Trees will be removed
A few trees will be felled from beside a rocky area at the side of Baana facing the former Maria Hospital area. Preparations are also under way for the future construction of Mechelininkatu by removing trees from behind the fence along Mechelininkatu in the Maria area. This will make room for a wider pavement and a bike lane. The project will also include introducing new plantings in the street square at Mechelininkatu 1.
Tree felling will take place during the week starting on 25 March.
The construction work, that might generate noise and dust, will primarily take place Mon–Fri from 7:00 to 18:00.
More information on the refurbishments of Mechelininkatu and their impact on pedestrian and cycling routes will be provided closer to the start of the project.