Traffic arrangements will change as follows in the next few weeks. The exact starting date of the changes will be announced later.
Motor vehicles:
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Mannerheimintie will narrow to one lane in both directions (between Postikatu and Runeberginkatu) The lanes will be on the western side of the street.
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Lane changes will be made at night and will be announced in advance when the exact day is confirmed. According to preliminary plans, the changes will be completed in week 12.
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There will be changes to driving from cross streets to Mannerheimintie.
Pedestrians:
- The pavements on the eastern side of the street will be decommissioned (between Kiasma and Runeberginkatu). Replacement routes will be provided via Hesperianpuisto and Töölönlahti or along the western side of the street.
- A combined pedestrian and cycling route will be provided from Arkadiankatu to Runeberginkatu on the western side of the street.
- The pedestrian crossing at Kiasma will be closed, and a replacement route will be provided in front of Lasipalatsi (in week 11)
- The southern pedestrian crossing across Mannerheimintie will be closed at the Ooppera intersection. (in week 11)
- Other pedestrian crossings will also be closed later – see the map for route details.
- There will be temporary interruptions to Baana during bridge demolition work, but otherwise it will remain open. Information on the dates and duration of the interruptions, as well as detours, will be provided in advance.
Cyclists:
- The cycle path on the eastern side of the street will be closed (between Postikatu and Runeberginkatu). A replacement route will be provided via Hesperianpuisto and Töölönlahti or along the western side of the street.
- A combined pedestrian and cycling route from Arkadiankatu to Runeberginkatu will be built on the western side of the street
- There will be temporary interruptions to Baana during bridge demolition work, but otherwise it will remain open. Information on the dates and duration of the interruptions, as well as detours, will be provided later.
Public transport:
- The charter bus stop in front of Kiasma will remain in use, and widening will remain for buses.
- Other bus stops: The temporary bus stop in Mannerheimintie for centre-bound buses will remain as it is at Mannerheimintie 40. The stop for buses from the city centre will be moved slightly further to the north.
Access to the properties along the street will remain throughout the renovation. Detours or bridges crossing the trench can be used where necessary.
Replacing tree rows
Tree rows will be replaced in the renovation of Mannerheimintie. Existing trees are unlikely to survive when deep trenches are dug right next to their roots. New tree rows will be planted in a slightly different location than the existing ones, where they will have better substrates. Trees will also be felled along the edge of Hesperia Park in the scope approved in the street plans.
In the first phase, trees will be removed from the section between Runeberginkatu and Dunckerinkatu, and four maples will be felled near the Parliament Building. Tree felling will start in week 11 and will be completed before the bird nesting season.
Helsinki’s largest street renovation project will be carried out in two parts
Mannerheimintie renovation project is estimated to be completed in late 2025. The construction site will also partly extend to the cross streets of Mannerheimintie.
The renovation project includes the replacement of the water pipes, power cables and other municipal infrastructure under the street as well as the tram tracks and the bridge across the Baana route, and the construction of one-way bicycle lanes on Mannerheimintie.
Mannerheimintie renovation project in numbers:
- Time for pipeline renovation – The oldest water pipeline still in use on Mannerheimintie dates back to 1877.
- Meanwhile, under the street – 2.3 km of new water pipeline and 3.1 km of new rainwater drains.
- New rails – 2.6 km of new tram tracks.
- Second-oldest bridge in Helsinki to be rebuilt – The Mannerheimintie bridge across Baana dates back to 1894.
- Helsinki’s largest street renovation project – The work area is approx. 2.8 km long and 102,000 m2 in area.