Hailuoto fixed link opens to traffic ahead of schedule in late June

The permanent road connection between Hailuoto island and the Finnish mainland will open to traffic in late June, earlier than originally planned, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Construction crews completed waterproofing work on the Huiku bridge over the weekend, with only asphalt paving and installation of bridge expansion joint supports remaining. Once finished, authorities will set an exact opening date for the 8.4-kilometre link, which includes two bridges—Huiku (767 m) and Riutu (737 m)—and a 6.9-kilometre causeway.

“Work scheduling and construction have progressed faster than anticipated, allowing us to open the connection before the peak summer travel season,” said Jukka Päkkilä, project manager at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. The project, which broke ground in May 2024, is now completing several months ahead of its target schedule.