Crane incident causes traffic chaos in downtown Helsinki

On Monday afternoon, a fallen vehicle crane in Hakaniemi caused significant traffic congestion in downtown Helsinki on Tuesday morning. The crane operation began on Monday evening and took longer than initially anticipated, as reported by Laura Saarlo, project manager of the Kruunusillat alliance.

“This is a very unusual situation. The operation requires precise and, above all, safe planning,” Saarlo stated on Tuesday morning.

At 11:16 AM on Tuesday, police announced that the crane had been lifted, and traffic on the Hakaniemi bridge was reopened. When asked why the lifting operations were not paused during the morning rush hour, Saarlo explained: “When the crane fell, the situation was stabilized and danger zones were identified. Late in the evening, we were able to close traffic on the Hakaniemi bridge and began constructing the lift. Progress was well made overnight, with multiple cranes supporting the lift. At the point when additional cranes were needed, the situation could not be safely paused.”

The new Hakaniemi bridge has a considerable number of users, prompting careful considerations against taking any risks. In terms of communication, a statement was issued, and various communication channels, including Facebook, were utilized. The alliance collaborated with media outlets and sent messages to major radio stations early in the morning to inform the public about the situation.

Regarding potential liability for any missed appointments due to the traffic delays, Saarlo indicated that they do not foresee liability but will evaluate the broader situation. “We have focused all our efforts on stabilizing and ensuring safety, while maintaining extensive communication,” she concluded.