Pimara Oy to begin maintenance work on roads in Upper Lapland amid local entrepreneur concerns

Pimara Oy, a contractor based in Pirkanmaa, will commence maintenance work on roads in Upper Lapland at the beginning of October. According to CEO Marko Vasenius, preparations are at the final stage, ensuring everything will be ready for the start of the contract and weather observations at that time. He notes that the equipment and preparations for winter operations are almost complete, with material storage set to be established in Utsjoki, Ivalo, Kaamas and Karigasniemi.

Local entrepreneurs are concerned about the timing of the contract’s commencement, believing that negotiations are still ongoing and contracts have not yet been signed. Entrepreneur Mika Rantanen, who has decades of subcontracting experience in Inari, expresses worry over the delays. “The emergency service should start on October 1st, but contracts with all subcontractors are still pending. Everything is somewhat chaotic; businesses are uncertain whether they should invest in equipment,” he states.

Rantanen emphasizes that while negotiations have made progress regarding pricing, contracts cannot be signed blindly. He is particularly interested in reviewing the contract details, such as payment schedules and emergency service arrangements, before committing.

Pimara had previously announced plans to continue collaborating with local subcontractors, but differences in operational management and expectations for emergency responses have emerged. Vasenius is now assuring that these issues have been resolved and contracts are being signed in Inari. With the inclusion of locals and their equipment, the company expects to engage over a dozen contractors for this extensive roadway maintenance project, covering more than 22,000 square kilometers and over 1,100 kilometers of roads in the Ivalo area.