Sign error spotted on traffic sign in central Helsinki, Finland

A sign in central Helsinki, located on Eteläesplanadi, contains a spelling mistake in Swedish. The sign, which directs traffic to South Harbor, incorrectly reads “Södra Hamnem,” while the correct form should be “Södra Hamnen.” Jouni Korhonen, the city’s leading traffic expert, admitted he had not noticed the error until Yle reached out to him. The sign is part of temporary traffic arrangements related to the changes in lanes on Eteläesplanadi.

According to Korhonen, the sign was installed due to the modifications in traffic flow, but the mistake was not present in the initial traffic management plan. “Mistakes happen,” he acknowledged, pointing out that the error likely occurred during the production of the sign, which was printed with the wrong letter. No one noticed the mistake when the sign was installed.

Korhonen stated that the sign will be corrected by the end of the year, coinciding with the dismantling of the traffic trial in Esplanadi. He emphasized that fixing the error will not incur extra costs since it will be done when the sign is replaced rather than as a separate task.

This is not the first spelling error Korhonen has encountered in his career, and he noted that previous errors, such as at Hartwall Arena and Malmi Hospital, have been easily remedied with temporary white covers concealing the mistakes. He added that the city is planning to update all traffic signage to comply with the new traffic law that took effect in 2020, ensuring that all details on the signs are accurate.