Helsinki City Environment Committee approves redevelopment plan for city center

The Helsinki City Environment Committee approved a significant redevelopment plan for the city center on Tuesday. The plan involves transforming Kaivokatu into a public transport street by closing it to vehicle traffic. Cross-town vehicular traffic will be redirected to run along the Esplanades, freeing up space around the railway station for pedestrians. According to the proposal, four lanes for vehicles will remain on the Esplanades.

The committee unanimously decided that the duration of future roadworks on both Kaivokatu and the Esplanades should be expedited to minimize disruptions for residents, visitors, and businesses in the area. The aim of these changes is to enhance the vitality of the city center.

The National Coalition Party expressed concern about maintaining smooth traffic flow in Helsinki’s city center. They proposed an alternative plan to redirect through-traffic into a service tunnel or to retain one lane of traffic in each direction on Kaivokatu. This proposal narrowly failed in a committee vote, with the Greens and Leftist parties voting 7-6 against it.

Additionally, the National Coalition Party suggested that only one track should be available for trams in front of the railway station to provide more space for pedestrians; this proposal was also rejected. The current plan retains two tram stops requiring two tracks in each direction.

The committee emphasized the importance of properly scheduling the continuation of the Crown Bridges tram line from Hakaniemi past the railway station to Jätkäsaari in coordination with other projects in the area. The final decision on the city center plans will be made by the Helsinki City Council, which typically approves the committee’s resolutions.