The new Arkadiankatu bridge is completed – roadworks will continue for the rest of the year

The bridge was completed in late summer. Work will now begin on building the surface structures of the street and renewing the tramway area. Most of the work will be completed by the end of the year.
Uuden Arkadiankadun sillan käyttöiäksi tavoitellaan 100 vuotta.
The target lifespan of the new Arkadiankatu bridge is 100 years. Photo: Miikka Kalke

The bridge was renovated before the roadworks began so that it could be completed quickly. MPV-Infrarakenne Oy specialises in bridges and was responsible for demolishing the old bridge and constructing the new one.

The bridge was constructed quickly during the winter months when there are fewer users on the pedestrian and cycling traffic route Baana running under it, and the disruption to light traffic was kept to a minimum.

Street structures and tram tracks renewed

The roadworks are carried out by Uudenmaan Infrapalvelut Oy. Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd is replacing the tram tracks on Arkadiankatu at the same time. Part of the finishing work, such as paving the pedestrian lanes and road markings, will be carried out in spring 2027.

Changes to routes

Due to tramway construction, Arkadiankatu will be closed at two points. A short section of Eteläinen Rautatiekatu between Antinkatu and Olavinkatu will also be closed. The changes were made during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, 22–23 September. The closures apply to motor vehicle traffic. Pedestrian and cycling paths will remain open.

The map of the routes. Motor vehicle traffic is closed on Arkadiankatu, by the Natural History Museum and Pikkuparlamentti.
The map of the routes. Motor vehicle traffic is closed on Arkadiankatu, by the Natural History Museum and Pikkuparlamentti.

Driving connections to the Kamppi bus terminals and carparks will be kept open, but changes will be applied to the routes.The aim is to ensure access throughout the renovation, except for minor interruptions.

  1. Eteläinen Rautatiekatu is closed between Antinkatu and Olavinkatu.
  2. During the renovation, the driving direction on Antinkatu between Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu and Eteläinen Rautatiekatu will be directed towards Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu.

100-year lifespan for the new bridge

The bridge was replaced due to its poor condition. The bridge crossing the former harbour railway tunnel and the current Baana route dated back to 1924. The City studies the condition of its bridges over a long period of time and renovates or replaces bridges in poor condition every year. The new bridge should have a life expectancy of 100 years.