The construction of the Jokeri Light Rail will affect traffic in the Helsinki metropolitan area in the coming years. The traffic routes near the work sites will undergo changes such as reduced speed limits, alternative routes and changes in the lane arrangements. The functionality of the temporary traffic arrangements has been a point of special attention in the Jokeri Light Rail project, and the arrangements will be planned to be safe for everyone using the roads. The arrangements will be made as long-term as possible in order to avoid constantly changing arrangements making navigation unnecessarily difficult.
Some of the streets under construction will be closed completely or to a certain mode of transport for the duration of the construction. Closing streets will facilitate large, unified work areas, making the construction faster and improving safety from the perspective of traffic and the worksite alike. However, access to properties and for rescue tasks will be maintained on closed streets.
The temporary traffic arrangements will be implemented in phases. This means that the end of a traffic arrangement will not necessarily mean the end of work in the area. Instead, the arrangements will be changed in accordance with the next work phases. Information about the temporary traffic arrangements will be given extensively, e.g. with signs near the worksites and announcements on the Jokeri Light Rail website and social media. HSL will provide more details about diverted public transport routes via its own communication channels.
First temporary traffic arrangements to begin in June
- The route for pedestrians and cyclists on the south side of Maarintie will be moved to the north side of the street. This arrangement is estimated to be in place until the end of June 2020.
- Ravitie will be closed to car traffic in mid-June. The replacement route will go via Turuntie and Pitäjämäentie, and the residents of the area can also use Vermonrinne. This arrangement is estimated to be in place until the end of August 2020.
- On Pitäjämäentie, lane arrangements will be made at the Pitäjämäentie junction, and turning lanes will have to be removed. This may slow down traffic travelling straight on to some extent. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the junction on the Patterimäki side. Furthermore, the bus stop by the Takomotie junction will be moved and the work area will be extended into the pedestrian lane. These arrangements are estimated to be in place until the end of 2019.
- Pirkkolantie will remain closed to motor vehicle traffic between Metsäpurontie and Maunulantie. The replacement route will go via Pakilantie and Metsäpurontie. This arrangement is estimated to be in place until late autumn 2020. The pedestrian and cyclist route on Pirkkolantie has been moved to go via Lampuotilantie until July–August 2019.
- Pirjontie will be closed to motor vehicle traffic in June. The replacement route will go via Pakilantie and Metsäpurontie. The pedestrian and cyclist route connections on Pirjontie will remain on the south side of the street. These arrangements are estimated to be in place until late autumn 2020.
- Norrtäljentie will be closed to motor vehicle traffic starting on 17 June. The replacement route will go via Mestarintie, Mäkitorpantie an Siltavoudintie. Bus 550 will be moved to a diverted route going via Siltavoudintie. The pedestrian and cyclist route will be moved to the east side of the road. These arrangements are estimated to be in place until the end of 2020.
- Veräjä will be closed to traffic completely due to preparatory work for the construction of a water pipe and a sewage line starting from 3 June. The replacement route will be Oulunkyläntie–Kirkkoherrantie–Jokiniementie–Otto Brandtin tie. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be directed to the route on the north side of Maaherrantie. These arrangements are estimated to be in place until the end of 2019.
- The pedestrian route on the south side of Maaherrantie between Tulvaniitynpolku and Vantaanjoki will be moved to the north side of Maaherrantie in June. This arrangement is estimated to be in place until the summer of 2020.
- On Pihlajanmäentie, some of the lanes are not in use. This arrangement is estimated to be in place until the end of September 2019.
- A new temporary pedestrian and cyclist route will be built on the south side of Viikintie. Covering a distance of approximately 500 m, the route will come into use after Midsummer. A new pedestrian and cyclist route will be opened for traffic in the autumn of 2020 at the latest.
- Varikkotie and Raaseporintie will be closed to motor vehicle traffic between Kajaaninlinnantie and Viilarintie starting on 17 June. Buses 550, 58, 80, 92 and 92N will be moved to a diverted route going via Itäväylä. Buses 92 and 92N will also skip the Ratasmyllyntie portion of their route and go via Viilarintie. This arrangement is estimated to be in place until the end of September 2022.
More information about the next phases of the temporary traffic arrangements will be given later.