Särkiniementie features one driving lane in each direction at the bridge. After the dismantling of the pedestrian bridge, pedestrians would cross Särkiniementie via a crosswalk. The safety of the existing crosswalk would be improved with speed bumps and a central reservation.
The traffic arrangements on Särkiniementie will be overhauled in the coming years, making the area more street-like. The measures to be carried out include improving the cycling conditions, reducing the width of the driving lane and overhauling the parking arrangements, among other things.
The City will monitor the condition of the bridge and, if necessary, restrict its use already in the summer of 2026.
The pedestrian bridge does not meet today’s requirements
In addition to dismantling the bridge, the options considered included repairing the bridge and building a completely new bridge in the same location.
The pedestrian bridge does not meet today’s requirements in terms of crash resistance and longitudinal gradient and is therefore not considered worth repairing.
The new bridge, on the other hand, would be required to be built to current standards, i.e. it should be crash-resistant and more gradual. The appearance of the bridge would therefore change from a light steel structure to a heavier concrete structure, and for accessibility reasons, the ramps would curve well into the park at both ends. This would be a costly solution, particularly considering the fact that according to a traffic census, only one third of pedestrians cross the street via the bridge, while the rest use the crosswalk.
Särkiniementie and Hevosenkenkäpuisto to be overhauled
In addition to the changes to the pedestrian bridge, other changes have been planned in the area. A street plan is currently being drawn up for Särkiniementie. It is proposed that new cycling lanes would be built next to the driving lane and that special attention would be paid to the safety of the crosswalk located at the existing bridge.
The appearance of the street will be transformed into a more urban environment when the renovation is carried out in 2028–2029, according to estimates.
Work to renovate the adjacent Hevosenkenkäpuisto is also set to start in summer 2026. Among other things, the park will feature plenty of new exercise equipment, play equipment, tables and benches. The existing plantings of the park will be supplemented with more diverse vegetation.
Join us for a walking tour
The City invites anyone interested to attend a walking tour in the bridge area on Tuesday 5 May. The tour will start at 17.30 from the old pumping station in Hevosenkenkäpuisto, next to the ‘Hevosenkenkäpuisto H1058’ bus stop. The tour will end at Playground Lahnalahti by 18.30.
In the playground building, you can also discuss the plans and see the preliminary traffic plan for Särkiniementie.
