Traffic jams at Finland-Sweden border as bridge closure coincides with holiday travel

Cross-border traffic between Finland and Sweden has ground to a halt in Tornio after the closure of the main road bridge over the Torne River until Friday morning, Yle reports.

Heavy vehicles have been diverted onto a 150-kilometre detour via Ylitornio, while passenger cars and buses use the old Hannula bridge near the construction site. The bottleneck is most acute on the route toward Sweden’s E4 highway and the road to Kilpisjärvi.

Ari Kilponen, head of the investment unit at the Lapland Centre for Economic Development, confirmed congestion has built up due to the bridge repair, with the worst delays occurring in the afternoons. The gridlock has surprised authorities, as previous closures for similar work did not cause significant backups.

Police reported minor incidents and calls from motorists about stationary traffic, but no serious accidents. Contributing factors include the peak holiday period, cheap fuel prices in Sweden drawing Finnish drivers, a major car event in Haaparanta, and an upcoming dog show in Piteå expected to attract many Finns.

About 400 trucks cross the Tornio-Haaparanta border daily, all now forced onto the lengthy detour.