Junatie bridge renovation to suspend metro service in 2027

Metro transport between central Helsinki and East Helsinki will have to be paused for at least six months in 2027 due to renovation work of the Junatie metro bridge in Helsinki, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Wednesday.

The bridge between Kalasatama and Sörnäinen will be renewed in 2026–2027.

According to monitoring carried out by Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd in the autumn and the past winter, the damage to the bridge observed earlier has progressed during the winter.

“We want to avoid any unexpected suspensions of metro operations, as interruptions of this kind would cause serious disruptions to Helsinki traffic. Now we can ensure that the metro services interruption will be implemented systematically. We are doing our best to reduce disruptions and limit the duration of the pause in service,” said Executive Director of the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division Ville Lehmuskoski.

Temporary supports were built on the bridge in winter as a risk mitigation measure, which was intended to secure the continuation of metro services on the bridge for the time being.

The bridge is safe for users.

The process of starting the procurement procedure for rebuilding the bridge has begun, and the aim is to attach a partner for the project this year.

This allows for utilising the builder’s expertise already in the planning phase, in particularly when considering the order in which the work is carried out and minimising any traffic disruptions.

The preparatory construction for the project is scheduled to start in spring 2026.

The construction work and the rebuilding of the bridge will take place in 2027.