Year: 2017

The West Metro project has gained two new experts – Juha Kylmänen is starting work as an electrical expert at the Sammalvuori depot and Timo Heiskanen as a scheduling engineer.

Kylmänen, who is from Oulu, has a degree in industrial engineering (B. Eng.) and specialises in machine automation technology.

Metro construction is already familiar to Kylmänen because he was involved in the construction of the Urheilupuisto and Koivusaari stations with his former employer, Amplit Oy. Kylmänen was responsible for completing the electrical work of the stations.

“The special thing about electrical work for the metro is that the supply of electricity is exceptionally well secured. If the primary supply fails, an equivalent system is found immediately”, Kylmänen says.

Kylmänen’s previous work experience includes, for example, working as a maintenance manager at Kontiotuote Oy and as a production and maintenance manager at Pipelife Oy.

“It is nice to look at construction from this side now, as I have a lot of experience from the perspective of a contractor”, Kylmänen says.

The work at the Sammalvuori depot has already shifted from excavation to the construction phase, meaning that Kylmänen’s working days will mainly be spent on site.

“I already visited the site on Monday, and will start serious work on Wednesday. My work largely consists of supervision and instruction”, Kylmänen says.

Gas pipes, mines, nuclear power – and now the metro

Timo Heiskanen is a trained civil engineer, developer, and also holds an MBA from Aalto University (Master of Business Administration).

Previously, Heiskanen worked in his own company from 2014 onwards. His clients included, for example, Baltic Connector Oy, involving him in the construction project of a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. He also has experience in the same field from Pori LNG and the construction of an LNG refuelling station, as well as from the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. Heiskanen has also worked in Australia where he initially went as a backpacker, but ended up getting a job in his own field at Leighton Contractors. Recently, he has been working in a start-up company.

The West Metro as a project offers a view to the new construction sector.

“Since I have already worked on nuclear power plants, mines and gas pipes, I thought that now it would the metro’s turn”, Heiskanen says.

Heiskanen is responsible for the schedule monitoring and management of the second phase project.

“it is important to maintain an up-to-date situational picture. Every day you have to know what is going on – in terms of design, procurement as well as the site”, Heiskanen says.

After the first working days, Heiskanen feels positive and enthusiastic.

“I would like to visit the site already”, he says.

Excavation of the Espoonlahdentori entrance will begin during week 40 at the Espoonlahti worksite on the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section of the West Metro. Espoonlahdentori will be one of two entrances to the coming Espoonlahti station.

Excavation of the shaft will begin on Monday, 2 October with drilling work, and blasting work is set to commence during the same week. In Espoonlahdentori, the excavation work is carried out on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The excavation and reinforcement work of the shaft will last for approximately two months.

In Espoonlahti, excavation of the station also continues: this is carried out between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., with work on the site set to continue until the end of 2017.

The working hours are based on a noise permit by Espoo Environment Department.

Further information: Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), +358 (0)50 377 3700

24-hour hotline for the Espoonlahti site: +358 (0)40 637 5377

On 4 October, a new connection between the Soukka and Espoonlahti rail tunnels was excavated on the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section of the West Metro. In each West Metro contract, the worksites excavate simultaneous tunnels which are then connected at the boundary between contract areas.

Earlier breakthroughs have been made between Finnoo–Kaitaa and Kaitaa–Soukka. After Wednesday’s breakthrough, the tunnel line now runs without interruptions from Finnoo, the first station of the metro’s second phase, to the penultimate station Espoonlahti. The breakthrough between Espoonlahti and Kivenlahti is yet to be accomplished. However, a connection has been excavated between Espoonlahti and the Sammalvuori depot.

The breakthrough was made on 4 October at 7 a.m. The excavation removed some 150 tonnes of rock separating the two tunnels.

A total of 91.3% of the excavations for the West Metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section are now completed. The excavations will be followed by a construction phase that has already begun in Sammalvuori.

Further information: Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00): +358 50 377 3700

Lemminkäinen Infra Oy, the excavator contractor at Finnoo site, has been named the West Metro’s Safest worksite. The review period of the internal competition was from 1 January to 30 June 2017. The competition is organised semi-annually and its participants are all current West Metro worksites. The prize is a gilded piece of rail track, engraved with the name of the winning contractor.

The award is granted on the basis of accident frequency monitoring and civil engineering worksite safety level (MVR) measurements. MVR measurements are carried out weekly on sites to measure different factors affecting safety, such as worksite cleanliness, condition of machinery and equipment, storage facilities, and protective equipment. The worksite with the best ranking scores in accident frequency monitoring and MVR measurements is named the winner. MVR results are given a weight of 80% in the ranking, while accident frequency monitoring carries a weight of 20%.

“This worksite has always held the right attitude – safety requirements are complied with not just due to rules, but over a real concern for employees. Any flaws are addressed without delay,” says Tiia Virtanen, Safety Coordinator for the West Metro project.

This is not the first time Lemminkäinen Infra Oy has won the award for safest worksite: the company is a two-time winner from West Metro excavation contracts and earned one award for the construction project of the Ruoholahti–Matinkylä section of the line.

“It always feels good to get recognition such as this. It shows that we have been doing things the correct way. A culture of safety is important to us. It means that people can carry out their tasks safely and leave work healthy,” says Markku Okkonen, Site Manager for the Finnoo excavation project.

Patrik Kalteva (B. Eng.) began work at the West Metro as a project engineer on 9 October. Kalteva will join the West Metro section of Matinkylä–Kivenlahti as a project engineer in Espoonlahti.

Kalteva transferred to the West Metro project from his position in NCC as site manager and quality engineer. Kalteva took part in, for example, the construction of the Matinkylä metro station, and has experience from the renovation of business premises at Fazer and the construction of the Alberga Business Park. At Consti Group, Kalteva worked as a chief supervisor in pipe renovation projects.

On his first day, Kalteva is eager to begin work at West Metro.

“This opportunity was too good to pass. I look forward to being a part of such a unique and extensive project, as well as taking responsibility for more large-scale assignments,” Kalteva says.

The Board discussed the contents of the partnership agreement between Länsimetro Oy and HKL. Länsimetro Oy has handed over control of the rail and stations and their technical systems to the management, responsibility and maintenance of HKL by an agreement signed on 3 October. Ownership shall remain with Länsimetro Oy, and management in accordance with the articles of association with its shareholders. In the agreement, HKL is tasked with the same duties concerning the rail, stations and systems of the West Metro as in the case of the existing metro line. HKL is responsible for the responsibilities and safety management system in accordance with legislation on urban rail transit.

The Board received a status update on the comprehensive safety and risk management of the Martinkylä–Kivenlahti section of the West Metro.

The next meeting will be held on 31 October.

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

The West Metro project holds monthly discussion and info sessions on the progress of the project. The next session is held on Monday, 23 October, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Soukka library, at the address Soukantie 4.

The info sessions, held along the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section, present the opportunity to ask questions and discuss matters related especially to the progress and construction of the second phase of the West Metro. The session will answer questions on, for example, the type of excavation work carried out and any construction work taking place near your home.

Excavations for the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section are nearing completion: 91.6% of the required total is now ready.

Further information: Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), +358 (0)50 377 3700

A large ponytailed statue stands on the bright white platform at Tapiola metro station – it is Emma leaves a trace, a newly unveiled work of art by the artist Kim Simonsson. The artwork Emma leaves a trace, funded by EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, blends in with the rest of the station due to its white colour, but a colourful hand draws the viewer’s attention: Emma has clearly dipped her hand into a can of paint.

It took Kim Simonsson a long time to decide what kind of artwork he wanted to create for the public space – a metro station, which according to Strafica’s prediction will see approximately 26,000 passengers per day.

“In many ways it’s more difficult to design art for a public space than for a private commission, because the work has to be able to withstand use. Choosing the right material is important. The subject also has to be carefully considered because of the public location,” says Simonsson.

The final idea of a mischievous Emma, who leaves her handprints on walls, was born when Simonsson was out walking in Fiskars with his partner.

“I wanted the piece to be anarchic in one way or another, but not too much. On that walk, I thought of a child painting on a wall – painting on a wall is a very liberating experience,” says Simonsson.

The result was Emma, who was influenced by Little My and Frida Kahlo, among others, and whose idiom combines realism and the softness of animated characters. The hair of the statue was originally meant to be in a bun similar to that of Little My’s, but that did not come to be.

“These models, strong women, have often had buns, but it looked too static on a statue. There is a sense of spaciousness in a ponytail,” says Simonsson.

Emma stands firmly on the platform – the statue is bolted into the platform with half-metre-long bolts to make sure that it does not fall over. Emma’s material is durable bronze that is painted white apart from the hand.

Traces left by Emma can be seen at the station – the first ones are visible when going up the escalator towards the ticket hall. The wall is decorated by a colourful stripe combining green, yellow, red and blue. Similar traces of colour can be found throughout the station, and the story also continues as digital animation.

“Emma is a strong and independent character. It would be fun if she became friends with users of the metro station,” smiles Simonsson.

Emma Simonsson’s art work Emma leaves a trace really leaves traces around the station.