As usual, Helsinki’s streets will be cleared of snow in accordance with their so-called maintenance class. Main streets and streets used for public transportation are cleared first. Residential streets are next in line.
Parking spaces reserved for local storage of snow
Helsinki is reserving approximately 250 parking spaces in advance for the local storage of snow in the city centre and the southern inner city, where the need for local storage is greatest. As in recent years, parking spaces for electric scooters will also be used as additional local storage space for snow. Helsinki’s goal is to reserve 2,000 parking spaces for the local storage of snow by 2033.
The City of Helsinki is also continuing the testing of various snow melting devices. This winter, the aim is to pilot a snow melting device connected to the district heating network on Saukonkuja in Jätkäsaari. Helsinki’s goal is to establish a total of 21 snow melting sites by 2033.These sites will be implemented utilising the lessons learned from the snow melting device pilots. The locations of the snow melting devices are currently being planned.
The City of Helsinki’s goal for 2033 is to significantly restore its snow dumping capacity, which has declined over the years. This is necessary because the need for snow removal will only increase as the city grows, and at the same time a large proportion of the existing snow dump areas will be phased out. Helsinki will stop dumping snow into the sea in 2028, in line with amended environmental legislation.
The use of the Hernesaari snow dump area has already decreased. According to the provisions of the environmental permit, snow cannot be transported to Hernesaari at night. As a result, there may be more lorries on the streets of southern Helsinki during the day in winter. There may also be more piles of snow on the streets waiting for transport.
Intensified winter maintenance network expanded
Helsinki’s pedestrian and cycling paths are ploughed in the order corresponding to their maintenance class. Helsinki’s network of routes subject to intensified winter maintenance now covers approximately 160 kilometres of cycling and walking paths.
On Telakkakatu, the section of Hämeentie from Hakaniemi to Sörnäinen and the section of Helsinginkatu between Kaarlenkatu and Hämeentie, the City has taken over maintenance tasks normally handled by properties to improve the winter maintenance of cycling paths. The City is responsible for the ploughing and anti-skid treatment of the pedestrian lanes on these streets, and for removing snow banks that accumulate next to the pedestrian lanes. This is a temporary pilot that is now being carried out for the second time.
Get SMS alerts about slippery conditions on your phone
Helsinki has introduced a new service that alerts users about slippery weather conditions via SMS. The service is free of charge.
Follow these steps to subscribe to the alerts:
- Send a text message to the number +358 50 902 4308
- Message text: JOIN HELSINKI
- If you want to receive the warnings at a specific time, add the hour at the end (0–23, Finnish time).
Example message: JOIN HELSINKI 8
You can submit feedback on the winter maintenance of streets and other routes via the City of Helsinki's feedback system at palautteet.hel.fi(Link leads to external service) . The service will relay your feedback directly to the supervisor responsible for the area.
