Last damaged road in Central Finland reopens after heavy rain

The final road in Central Finland collapsed by last weekend’s torrential rain has been repaired and reopened to traffic, the regional development agency reported.

Heavy downpours caused widespread damage to gravel roads in Multia, Keuruu, Saarijärvi, and Kannonkoski, forcing closures on Sunday. The last affected route, Soutujoentie in Multia, was restored and opened at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Multia recorded Finland’s highest rainfall over the weekend, with nearly 120 millimetres in under 24 hours. The agency stated that the intense water flow so severely damaged Soutujoentie that a section had to be completely rebuilt. Repair work also included clearing gravel washed onto adjacent fields.

Though all closed roads are now passable, finishing work continues without disrupting traffic. The agency is actively monitoring roads for minor damage and urges motorists to report any issues to its road user hotline.