Tampere plans underground road network up to 3 km long

Tampere has begun constructing an underground street network, with a long-term goal of building up to 3 km of tunnels beneath the city centre by the 2040s, Yle reports.

Work on the University Tunnel started in May, with the 200-metre section set for completion in early 2028. By 2031, a new underground connection will open to the P-Hämpi parking facility, adding 500 spaces near the city core.

The project aims to free up surface space for housing, businesses, and safer pedestrian and cycling routes by moving car traffic below ground. The system will link major entry routes to central parking, with traffic circles providing access to underground lots without passing through them.

City project director Tero Tenhunen said the network, costing hundreds of millions over time, could be operational in the 2040s. The eastern side of Tammerkoski is already under construction, while western plans await decisions. A recently freed 2-hectare industrial site in the centre may accelerate development, as new residential or commercial use there will increase parking demand.

Helsinki is also reconsidering its own central tunnel plans, potentially replacing them with an upgraded service tunnel.

Workplace professor Kalle Vaismaa of Tampere University called the solution unique in Finland for integrating entry routes with underground parking far from the city centre. He noted that Dutch and Belgian cities, like Ghent, offer models for comprehensive traffic planning, and that Tampere’s choices should endure even as vehicle automation progresses.