Espoo works will disrupt two of Finland’s busiest roads

A major construction and repair project in Espoo will disrupt traffic on two of Finland’s busiest roads for more than two years, Yle reports.

Work is due to begin later this year on Länsiväylä and the western end of Ring I. The project will involve repairs to eight bridges on Länsiväylä, the replacement of Tapiola Bridge and the construction of ramps on Ring I.

Ring I carries 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles a day at Keilaniemi, while traffic on Länsiväylä is even heavier, project manager Jarmo Nirhamo of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency said. “The impact on traffic will be significant,” he said.

Länsiväylä will remain open throughout the work, but the number of lanes will be reduced and lower speed limits will be introduced. Rebuilding bridges at the junction of the two roads is expected to affect traffic flow.

When Tapiola Bridge is replaced because it has reached the end of its service life, traffic from Helsinki and Tapiola towards Westend will be diverted. Carrying out the bridge and ramp work at the same time is intended to shorten the disruption and reduce costs.