Month: May 2017

The first days of spring draw keen cyclists and moped riders onto the streets. From the perspective of worksite traffic, excited people who forget other road users may, however, cause problems.

“Everyone should observe traffic regulations. We hope that parents teach their children that braking does not bring heavy-duty machines to a stop as fast as cars. You have to exercise caution near them,” says Minna Alantie, supervisor of the Sammalvuori metro depot, who meets heavy-duty machines in her daily work.

Drivers slow down near children – avoid unexpected moves

Alantie advises road users of all ages to ensure that the machine driver sees them. You can, for example, greet the driver and wait for an answer or try to make eye contact with him.

“It is typical for moped riders, in particular, to move suddenly from the cycle lane to the driveway and back again. This puts the users of both lanes to risk. You should always indicate to other road users where you are going to prevent confusion,” Alantie says.

Traffic lights often change at the same time for different user groups, but it is advisable to be patient even then. By jumping from one lane to another, you might save a little time but you also put yourself and others to risk with your unexpected moves.

“We slow down when there are children about, and we have also instructed our rock hauling subcontractors to slow down near schools. Our cooperation with the subcontractors has worked well,” says Alantie.

Traffic arrangements that are safe for everyone

Safety assessments are carried out weekly at the worksite, and they also include going through traffic issues. It is ensured at the site that the equipment is in good condition, speeds are controlled, and machine drivers are instructed how to act when driving outside the worksite.

Sometimes temporary traffic arrangements must be made near the worksite, and in this case the aim is always to ensure that they are safe for all user groups. If traffic arrangements are changed, a permission is always required from the City of Espoo.

“In Espoonlahti, for example, the different construction sites have to coordinate many things. In addition to the west metro site, there is also the shopping centre Lippulaiva’s construction site. Special caution should be exercised in this area, as there are several construction sites and a lot of worksite traffic,” says Alantie.

Further information:

Länsimetro feedback phone +358 (0)50 377 3700

Länsimetro takes the annual bird nesting season into account in its construction work. The Suomenlahdentie shaft of the Finnoo metro construction site is located close to a wetland serving as a nesting place for birds. On-site noise level measurements were carried out in order to find out what kind of work can be continued without disturbing nesting. The aim was to ensure that construction work does not subject the bird wetland to highly disturbing noise, which is prohibited by the zoning provision.

A total of seven measurements were carried out at the northern parts of the Suomenoja bird reservoirs. They showed that, as long as certain arrangements are made on the site, anchor and bolt drilling as well as excavating can be continued even during the summer. The work will be performed in a vertical shaft surrounded by noise damping elements about 4.5 to 10 metres below ground level.

“The measurements showed that drilling slightly increased background noise at the wetland side. We will therefore move the compressor that produces energy for the drilling to a more sheltered location behind the noise barrier and build a plywood wall behind it. This allows us to continue anchor and bolt drillings even in the summer,” says Tuomo Orpana, supervisor at the Finnoo construction site.

Tunnel excavation has continued normally all the time, and it will also continue during the summer. However, open excavation is suspended until the end of the nesting period, i.e. 15 August.

The measurements also showed that the noise from the site is steady in nature, which does not disturb birds in the same way as sudden loud noises that would make birds take flight and disturb nesting.

Further information:

24-hour hotline for the Finnoo site: +358 (0)50 421 3344

Lasse Kämpe, Environmental Auditor, Espoo Environmental Centre: +358 (0)43 824 6048

Länsimetro feedback phone: tel. +358 (0)50 377 3700

An intensive clean-up of streets is ongoing in Espoo: streets are washed by means of washing vehicles and street sweepers now that night frosts are over. It was not possible to wash the street when there were night frosts, as the water could have frozen and caused hazards by making streets slippery.

The City of Espoo is responsible of the clean-up of public streets, and Länsimetro cooperates with the City in areas close to its worksites. These areas are cleaned up by a subcontractor normally once a week and, if necessary, even more often.

Last week there were four washing units in operation around the Kaitaa worksite for several days. Pentti Väyrynen, supervisor of the Kaitaa site, praises the quality of the spring clean-up.

“Both pavements and driveways are now in really good condition. Kaitaantie is clean from the Finnoo worksite to Riihilahdentie and even further. The surroundings of the Kaitaa station are also clean. The final clean-up in Hannuskallio will be made by 28 April,” says Väyrynen.

Further information:

Länsimetro feedback phone +358 (0)50 377 3700

On Tuesday, 25 April, water leaked to the lowest-level passage at the Aalto University station of the west metro. There was a few centimetres of water in the technical facilities below the platform, which did not cause any hazards. The premises used by the public are located more than four metres above these facilities.

Water leaked to the station when the sprinkler system was tested.

The Länsi-Uusimaa Rescue Department vacuumed the water during the same day, and final cleaning will be performed in the technical facilities of the station on Wednesday, 26 April.

The leaking of water to the station does not affect the introduction of the west metro.

Further information:

Länsimetro feedback phone +358 (0)50 377 3700

 

 

A historical blast was carried out at the Kaitaa metro worksite on 20 April, when the first through hole was opened to the underground station hall.

So far a total of 73.8 per cent of the Kaitaa rail line and station has already been excavated. In addition, a vertical shaft and several access tunnels have also been excavated. Now the excavation of the first entrance to remain in permanent use has begun. Escalators leading to the station hall will be built during the construction phase at the entrance now made.

“At first, we open a through hole to the station hall, and then we begin to expand it. It will take about a month to excavate the entrance,” says Pentti Väyrynen, supervisor of the Kaitaa worksite of the west metro.

Further information:

Länsimetro feedback phone: tel. +358 (0)50 377 3700

The Board discussed the objectives, schedule and cost-estimate of phase two of the West Metro, the Matinkylä-Kivenlahti section. Consideration of this matter will continue at the next meeting.

The Board of Directors approved the proposal for the Annual General Meeting on the company’s remunerations.

The CEO gave a status report on the introduction of phase one, the Ruoholahti-Matinkylä section. It was noted that the timetable for traffic on the Ruoholahti-Matinkylä section will be announced alongside HSL in early May.

The next meeting will be held on 5 May.

Further information:

Ville Saksi, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)40 823 2086

Olli Isotalo, Chairman of the Board of Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)50 593 3359

Media contacts: Satu Linkola,Communications Director, tel. +358 (0)46 877 3392