Finland tests construction of trenches and dugouts as emergency measures would halt normal building work

Finland is testing the rapid construction of military defences such as trenches and dugouts in Satakunta, with major construction firms prepared to shift resources to defence projects in a state of emergency, reports Yle.

Under a prearranged agreement, large construction companies would suspend civilian projects to prioritise military infrastructure if Finland entered a state of emergency. The transition would require one to two months of preparation before professional builders could begin work on defensive structures.

“We would need a month or two to wind down normal construction sites and secure them against weather and vandalism,” said Jari Piili, site manager at NCC, the firm overseeing emergency construction in western Finland. During this period, contractors and labour would be reassigned to defence projects.

The system was developed in collaboration with the Finnish Construction Trade Union. Piili described it as the “best possible solution,” noting that in the past, reservists with limited equipment would have been mobilised. “Now, professionals who do this work daily in peacetime would handle it,” he said.

Financial gains for contractors would be minimal. “This wouldn’t be a goldmine if activated, but we’re committed to the system,” Piili added.

The current exercise, led by the Pori Brigade, is taking place at Huovinrinne in Säkylä as part of the BASE26 drill. The site is being developed into a practice base for a jaeger platoon, featuring extensive timber fortifications typical of wartime defences.

If emergency construction were activated, material shortages would likely halt any remaining civilian projects. “Even if someone wanted to keep building, there wouldn’t be enough supplies,” Piili explained.

Finland has divided the country into regional zones, each assigned to designated contractors responsible for emergency construction in their area.