The Jokeri Light Rail line will run along the northern edge of Patterimäki Park, partly going under it through a tunnel. The start of construction in Patterimäki Park has been delayed due to complaints.
The Jokeri Light Rail Alliance will commence tree felling and the construction of the tunnel entrance on the eastern side of Patterimäki on Monday 15 February 2021. The aim is to reduce the risk of further delays and additional costs. The construction of the eastern end of the tunnel will require more work than the western end.
Construction in the western part of Patterimäki Park cannot commence yet, however. The western part of the park is currently subject to a work prohibition that will remain in effect until the matter is processed by the Supreme Administrative Court. The Alliance aims to commence construction in the western part of the park as soon as possible.
The construction of Jokeri Light Rail will not affect the breeding and resting ground of Siberian flying squirrels located in the eastern part of Patterimäki Park. No signs of Siberian flying squirrels were found in the construction site during the terrain assessment carried out by the environmental inspector of the City of Helsinki last week.
After the tree felling, the construction of the eastern end of the tunnel will continue with topsoil removal and rock excavation. The tunnel has already been excavated via the Arinatie sand silo, with only the entrances still needing to be constructed.
Apart from Patterimäki, the construction of Jokeri Light Rail is proceeding on schedule and in some places even ahead of schedule.
Previous stages:
- The Jokeri Light Rail alliance announced that it would begin felling trees in Patterimäki park in mid-May 2019.
- In May 2019, Pajamäki-seura and Helsingin luonnonsuojeluyhdistys applied for a prohibition of measures from the Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
- The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment rejected the associations’ applications in July 2019. According to the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, the prohibition of measures was unnecessary and no deviation permit was needed for the tree felling.
- Helsingin luonnonsuojeluyhdistys appealed against the decision of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment to Helsinki Administrative Court and simultaneously applied for a prohibition of measures on the tree felling.
- Helsinki Administrative Court made a provisional decision that there was no need to issue a prohibition on enforcement.
- Helsingin luonnonsuojeluyhdistys applied for leave to appeal against Helsinki Administrative Court’s decision and a prohibition of measures on the tree felling from the Supreme Administrative Court.
- The Supreme Administrative Court issued a prohibition on enforcement on 22 July 2019 until Helsinki Administrative Court has decided on the appeal against the decision of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
- Helsinki Administrative Court extended the prohibition of measures and referred the matter back to the Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment on 18 February 2020.
- On 27 May 2020, the ELY Centre issued a decision based on the most recent Siberian flying squirrel surveys, stating that the preparatory work for Jokeri Light Rail cannot start in Patterimäki park.
- The City of Helsinki Urban Environment Division is applying for a permit from the Uusimaa ELY Centre to deviate from the provisions concerning the protection of the Siberian Flying squirrel in Patterimäki park.
- On 9 July 2020, the Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment granted a permit to deviate from the provisions concerning the protection of the Siberian flying squirrel laid down in the Nature Conservation Act in Patterimäki park.
- On 10 August 2020, Pajamäki-seura ry and Pro Nature ry appealed against the deviation permit to the Administrative Court of Helsinki.
- On 10 December 2020, the Administrative Court of Helsinki issued a decision, according to which there is no reason to change the decision of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
- Pajamäki-seura ry and Pro luonto ry submitted a petition for leave of appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court on 8 January 2021.
- The Alliance started preparatory work on the eastern end of the tunnel, which is not subject to the work prohibition, on 15 February 2021.