Helsinki tram plan raises fears over ambulance access

Plans for a tram line on Topeliuksenkatu have prompted concern that ambulances could face delays reaching Meilahti Hospital, Finland’s largest hospital campus, Yle reports. The street is one of the routes used by ambulances travelling to the hospital.

The tram would run on a dedicated lane raised six centimetres above the road. The number of car lanes on Topeliuksenkatu would also be cut from two to one in each direction. Helsinki says fewer lanes are needed because bus services on the street will be reduced.

Opponents of the tram project fear the raised lane and reduced road capacity could slow ambulance journeys. Matti Luokola, one of the leaders of the group Save Topeliuksenkatu, says traffic could block access to the hospital. About 150 ambulances arrive at Meilahti each day.

HUS, the hospital district, says the raised tram lane should not directly affect ambulance traffic. Its director of security services, Lasse Himmanen, said indirect effects could arise if congestion increases as more car traffic is directed from Topeliuksenkatu to Haartmaninkatu, where the hospital’s main entrance is located.

HUS board chair Risto Rautava said he trusted that ambulance access would be secured at all times. Helsinki says ambulances will be able to bypass traffic by using the raised tram lane. A draft plan is due to be published on November 25.