Collapsed Turuntie road in Somero may reopen this week

Repair work on the Turuntie road in Somero, damaged by heavy rainfall, has progressed this week, with authorities aiming to reopen it to traffic by the end of this week or early next week at the latest.

A severe thunderstorm with torrential rain on Sunday night caused a section of the road to collapse after a powerful surge of water undermined the structure.

Preliminary repairs have begun, but high water levels in the nearby riverbed are still hindering some work, such as cable repairs, according to Tero Ahokas, a pavement engineer at the Southwest Finland Vitality Centre.

The discovery of a suitably sized culvert has accelerated the repairs, as such components are not typically stocked, Ahokas noted. He warned the public to avoid the road edges due to the risk of further collapses.

Nearby Lahdentie road remains closed, though partial reopening is expected this week.

The road will first be restored to a trafficable condition with a temporary surface and culvert, with full repaving to follow later. Forecasted heavy rain on Saturday may complicate efforts, as the collapse area has a large catchment that collects runoff from the surroundings.

Ahokas described the collapse as unexpected, as the road had been built with a culvert designed to withstand heavy rainfall. He added that such events are difficult to predict or prepare for in advance.