Mannerheimintie renovation project

What does the renovation of Mannerheimintie entail?

To be carried out in two parts, the Mannerheimintie renovation project is estimated to be completed in late 2025. The construction site will also partly extend to the streets crossing Mannerheimintie.

The first to be renovated is the section between the Postikatu and Runeberginkatu streets in 2023–2024. In late 2024, with the first phase completed in terms of traffic, the work will continue between the Runeberginkatu and Reijolankatu streets.

All street surfaces will be replaced, but much will also happen under the street, as the old subterranean municipal technology will be completely renewed.

Under renovation:

• Renewal of the old, about 100-year-old municipal infrastructure. Municipal infrastructure refers to, for example, water supply pipelines, district heating and cooling pipelines, and electricity and telecommunication cables under the street. 
• The Mannerheimintie bridge across Baana between Kiasma and Pikkuparlamentti will be renewed.
• Pavements, cycle lanes, tramways and roadways will be renovated.
• There will be more loading places for service and delivery traffic on Mannerheimintie and its side streets.
• Ruusankatu, Savilankatu and Sallinkatu will be converted into one-way streets in the direction of Mannerheimintie.
• Hesperianpuisto will have a ramp and stairs bordered by a natural stone retaining wall.

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 kilometres of new water pipeline and 3.1 kilometres of new rainwater drains.
• New rails – 2.6 kilometres 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 contract area is approx. 2.8 km long and 102,000 m² in area.

Why is the renovation being done?

There are many water pipelines, sewage pipelines and electricity lines running under Mannerheimintie, which have reached the age of renovation. The oldest water pipeline still in use on Mannerheimintie dates back to 1877. The renovation will involve the replacement of these utilities. Repairing the water supply will avoid inconvenient water outages.

The renovation will also include the replacement of street surface structures such as paving, asphalt and tram rails, as well as telecommunication cables, lighting, poles, traffic lights, traffic signs and signals. Tram stops will also be improved and extended for the future light rail line.

The end result of the project will be a thoroughly renovated street with space for all users, regardless of their mode of transport.

How long will the renovation last?

The work began in March 2023. The aim is to have the renovation fully completed by the end of 2025.

When is work starting in each area?

Work already started on the section of the street between Postikatu and Runeberginkatu, the southern part of the contract area, in March 2023.

Once the first section of the contract area has been completed, the work will move to the northern part of the contract area  between Runeberginkatu and Reijolankatu. This will largely restore traffic arrangements in the southern section.

Who is doing the work?

The contractor is VM Suomalainen Oy. The main client is the Urban Environment Division of the City of Helsinki.

Can a housing company do its own renovation during the work?

If a housing cooperative has plans to renovate a building, the property manager must contact the contractor. Each renovation must be discussed case-specifically, since the location of the housing cooperative and the nature and timing of the renovation all influence whether it can be done during the roadworks.

The city has asked housing cooperatives in advance whether they are planning to renovate their properties during the renovation of Mannerheimintie.

What are the daily working hours?

For the most part, work at the site can take place Mon–Fri 7.00–22.00 and, if necessary, on Saturdays 7.00–22.00. Work may also have to be done at night. We will notify you separately of any noisy work at night. Work can be carried out at night without a separate notification when it is not particularly disturbing work, noisy work or work that causes vibration.

Will it get noisy?

Yes, the worksite will cause the usual street construction noises. The most noisy work will take place Mon–Fri 7.00–18.00, but work can take place at the worksite Mon–Fri 7.00–22.00 and, if necessary, on Saturdays 7.00–22.00.

The properties in the area will be regularly informed of noisy work.

Will there be work at night?

As a rule, work will only be done during the day, but it is justified to do some of the work during the night.

In accordance with the City of Helsinki’s Environmental Services, work causing disturbing noise can only be done at night (from 22.00 to 7.00) for a compelling and justified reason. If noisy work will be done at night, residents and businesses will always be informed in advance.

Will the work cause vibration? When?

Yes, the work can cause vibrations. If significant vibrations (due to extraction) are expected, the work in question will be announced in good time, allowing vibration attenuation, among other things, to be taken into account.

The extraction work has been planned to take place using a non-explosive method, i.e. with the help of drilling and hydraulic wedging. This does not cause shock waves, like blasting.

Will there be power or water cuts? When?

Yes, the street work can cause short power and water supply cuts when carrying out connection work. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY and Helen Electricity Network will announce any supply cuts required by the work in advance.

You can subscribe to HSY’s text messages regarding planned water supply cuts: www.hsy.fi/en/water-and-sewers/text-messages-regarding-water-supply-cuts/

Unexpected pipe breaks are also possible when carrying out street work. HSY has published basic instructions for residents when the water supply is cut unexpectedly: www.hsy.fi/en/water-and-sewers/water-supply-cuts-and-disturbances-in-water-supply/

Where can I get information about the work and changing traffic arrangements?

The contractor will update the information on the progress of the work and the prevailing traffic arrangements on the project's own website at manskunkatutyöt.fi .

Current work and traffic changes will also be announced on the project's Facebook page at facebook.com/uusimannerheimintie .

How will the renovation affect traffic in the area?

The street renovation project will affect traffic in the area in many ways. Traffic arrangements will be changed several times as the project progresses.

The work will cause changes to pedestrian and cycle routes, but pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users will be able to cross the site area. Passageways will be marked as clearly as possible.

There will be temporary interruptions to the Baana route during the demolition of Mannerheimintie bridge, but Baana will otherwise remain open. The dates and duration of the interruptions as well as alternative routes will be announced in advance.

The work will affect motor vehicle traffic passing through the contract area, as there will be only one lane in each direction. Traffic may be congested throughout the period of renovation. It is therefore advisable to allow more time than usual for travelling, to use alternative routes or, where possible, to use public transport.

What are the alternative routes for motor vehicle traffic?

Proposed detours for the first phase of the project are summarised in the attached map.

Will there be normal access to properties during the work? And what about the businesses along the street?

The properties and shops along the street will be accessible throughout the project. If there is an excavation in front of a gate or stairwell, it will be kept open using temporary bridges. Delivery traffic will also be secured.

What changes will the work bring to public transport?

In the first phase, tram lines 4 and 10 will move from Mannerheimintie to Runeberginkatu. Some bus routes will also move from Mannerheimintie to Runeberginkatu. In the second phase from autumn 2024, there will be further changes to public transport routes. HSL will provide more details on the changes to public transport on hsl.fi and other channels. https://www.hsl.fi/en

Will there be any changes to parking in the contract area?

There will be changes to parking on the streets crossing Mannerheimintie in the areas close to the crossings. In the first phase, changes will be made at least to Aurorankatu and Eteläinen Hesperiankatu. Parking spaces will be removed from these during the work, and will be released back into use as the work progresses.

What will change after the roadworks?

In the future, you will be able to walk, cycle, use a wheelchair, public transport and drive along Mannerheimintie as usual. The number of lanes will remain unchanged.

Once the renovation is complete, the street will have been resurfaced and the traffic arrangements will be in line with the city's objectives. It will be safe to travel on the street by any means of transport. Lighting and traffic lights will also be replaced.

One-way cycle lanes separated from pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic will be built along the entire street section, making cycling smoother and all modes of transport safer.

In particular, a lot will happen under the street, as all the municipal infrastructure will be replaced. About 2.3 km of main water supply pipelines and about 1.5 km of main combined sewage pipelines will be upgraded, and about 3.1 km of new main stormwater pipelines will be built. The renovation of the water supply system will safeguard water supply in the future.

A major change to the urban landscape will be the ramp and steps to be built on the edge of Hesperianpuisto park, which will be bordered by a natural stone retaining wall. The bridge over Baana will also be replaced.

How will people move around the area once the roadworks are complete

Walking
In the future, pedestrian traffic will be separated from cycle lanes, which will improve pedestrian safety. Accessibility will be improved, particularly at intersections and bus and tram stops.

Dangerous pedestrian crossings not controlled by traffic lights will be removed and the locations of crossings will be changed. Pedestrian crossings will be built to a special level of accessibility.

Cycling
Once the renovation is complete, cycle traffic will use segregated one-way cycle lanes making cycling safer than before. Cycle lanes will be made one-way in line with the city centre target cycling network.

Public transport
Tram rails will be renewed and trams will run in their own lanes. The renovation will also take into account the growing needs for public transport, as the future West-Helsinki light rail line will run along Mannerheimintie. The accessibility of tram stops will be improved.

Bus lanes will be preserved to safeguard the operating conditions of bus services.

The number of stops will remain unchanged and their locations will remain more or less the same. The bus stops north of the Runeberginkatu intersection will be converted into roadway stops, with the exception of the Opera House stop.

Motor vehicle traffic
Driving arrangements will be the same as before as there will be two lanes in each direction on Mannerheimintie. One of the lanes will be a bus lane, as it is today. Left turns will continue to be prohibited.

Loading places for service and delivery traffic will be increased on Mannerheimintie and its side streets. 

Ruusankatu, Savilankatu and Sallinkatu will be converted into one-way streets in the direction of Mannerheimintie.

Will the number of parking spaces be reduced?

The total number of parking spaces in the area will remain almost unchanged. Loading places for service and delivery traffic will be increased on Mannerheimintie and its side streets.

Will trees be felled and new trees planted to replace those removed?
The line of trees on the eastern side of Mannerheimintie will be completely replaced due to the new traffic arrangements and the renovation of the municipal infrastructure between the south end of the Töölö Sports Hall and the intersection of Savilankatu.

The trees on both the eastern and western sides between Dunckerinkatu and Runeberginkatu will also be replaced. The aim is to improve the growing conditions for the new trees that will be planted. The number of new trees planted will be roughly the same as now. 

The construction of the retaining wall on the edge of Hesperianpuisto park will result in the felling of trees there. The trees to be removed will be replaced by new trees, shrubs and perennials planted in suitable places.

What are the costs of the roadworks?

The total cost of the renovation of Mannerheimintie will be about EUR 46.2 million.