News

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.

On 7 September, the tunnels between a total of four construction sites will be connected on the west metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti stretch. In the various contracts for the west metro, several tunnels are being excavated simultaneously and will eventually meet at the contract area boundary. The stone wall between the tunnels is 3–6 metres thick on average, and this wall will be removed during the breakthrough.

The last remaining thin rock plug separating the tunnels excavated between Kaitaa and Soukka will be blasted through on Thursday afternoon, and the breakthrough between the Sammalvuori depot and the Espoonlahti construction site will take place in the evening. The breakthrough between Sammalvuori and Espoonlahti will occur in phases: first, a narrower connection will be opened between the tunnels and then the hole will be enlarged. The breakthrough between Soukka and Kaitaa will be accomplished with a one-off blasting operation.

The first breakthrough for the second phase of the west metro was made on 10 August, between Kaitaa and Finnoo. This new breakthrough will open tunnel connections from the Kaitaa construction site to both of the surrounding tunnels.

Excavations on the west metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti stretch are now 90% complete. The excavations will be followed by a construction phase that has already begun for Sammalvuori.

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

Puhkaistu tunneli Kaitaan ja Soukan työmaiden välillä.

On 7 September, the tunnels between a total of four construction sites will be connected on the west metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti stretch. In the various contracts for the west metro, several tunnels are being excavated simultaneously and will eventually meet at the contract area boundary. The stone wall between the tunnels is 3–6 metres thick on average, and this wall will be removed during the breakthrough.

The last remaining thin rock plug separating the tunnels excavated between Kaitaa and Soukka will be blasted through on Thursday afternoon, and the breakthrough between the Sammalvuori depot and the Espoonlahti construction site will take place in the evening. The breakthrough between Sammalvuori and Espoonlahti will occur in phases: first, a narrower connection will be opened between the tunnels and then the hole will be enlarged. The breakthrough between Soukka and Kaitaa will be accomplished with a one-off blasting operation.

The first breakthrough for the second phase of the west metro was made on 10 August, between Kaitaa and Finnoo. This new breakthrough will open tunnel connections from the Kaitaa construction site to both of the surrounding tunnels.

Excavations on the west metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti stretch are now 90% complete. The excavations will be followed by a construction phase that has already begun for Sammalvuori.

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

The Länsi-Uusimaa Department for Rescue Services will hold a drill at the Tapiola metro station on 22 September from around 9:45 to 15:00. In this drill, passenger safety on the west metro will be tested in a simulated evacuation in the actual operating environment of the metro.

During the drill, several emergency vehicles will be moving in the vicinity of the station. The drill will involve the use of harmless light grey smoke that is not hazardous to health. Smoke will be released from the metro’s smoke extraction shafts and will spread in accordance with the wind direction prevailing at the time. No calls to the Emergency Response Centre should be made concerning the smoke used in the rescue drill, unless the smoke originates from a source other than the drill.

The Department for Rescue Services regrets any inconvenience the drill may cause for local residents and companies and other people located in the area. In order to minimise any harmful effects, unnecessary visits to this area should be avoided. This drill will provide valuable information for improving the safety of metro traffic, which will benefit all of us.

Further information on the drill:

Länsimetro Oy, Satu Linkola, Communications Manager, tel. +358 46 877 3392

Länsi-Uusimaa Department for Rescue Services, Heikki Kervinen, Fire Chief, tel. +358 9 8162 8699 (switchboard)

Events during the past week:

• The control centre systems are functioning, but work is ongoing to get them ready for use.
  • The scheduled test drive carried out on 14 September was interrupted due to disturbances in the west metro’s electric system. In addition, other, smaller consecutive traffic disturbances occurred during the test drive.
  When the disturbances in the electric system occurred, the rail’s security system functioned as planned within the pre-defined limits and suspended all traffic. The required actions are being taken and their effect will be tested during the next test drive, which will take place solely on the west metro stretch next Tuesday.

Remaining tasks before traffic begins running:

• Correcting defects in the systems required for the metro’s use
  • Connecting the fire detector system to the Emergency Response Centre
  • Handing the control centre systems over to HKL for the initial production phase
  • Carrying out traffic experiments successfully in accordance with traffic schedules throughout the metro line on at least three days
  • The initial production phase for the maintenance of the stations and rail (HKL): ensuring the metro’s dependability and the reliability of its operation, correcting any defects that are discovered, increasing the readiness of HKL’s employees
  • Passenger rescue drills before the passenger traffic service begins
  • Required approvals from authorities for commencing passenger traffic

The next status update will be given on 22 September.

Further information:
Ville Lehmuskoski, Managing Director, HKL, tel. +358 40 520 6710
Ville Saksi, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 40 823 2086

Events during the past week:

• On 4 September, the Helsinki City Rescue Department gave a favourable opinion on opening the Koivusaari and Lauttasaari stations for use. Based on this favourable opinion, HKL has been able to begin the preparations required before metro trains can start running.
• On 31 August, the Länsi-Uusimaa Rescue Department gave a favourable opinion concerning the six stations located in Espoo.
• The effectiveness of the joint situation management model of Länsimetro and HKL was improved, with the objectives being seamless co-ordination of the actions of all parties and improvements in schedule accuracy.
• A decision was made to publish weekly status updates after the review meetings held on Fridays.
• The station-specific final cleaning operations by contractors have mainly been completed.
• It has been agreed with the rescue departments that voice evacuation, sprinkler, gas suppression and fire detector systems can be connected to the Emergency Rescue Centre. The target schedule for these connections is next week.

Remaining tasks before traffic will begin running:

• Handover of fully functioning control systems for HKL’s use
• Obtaining final approvals from the building control authorities of Espoo and Helsinki for the commencement of passenger traffic services
• Implementing other necessary changes based on the observations of HKL and Länsimetro
• The initial production phase for the maintenance of the stations and rail (HKL), increasing the readiness of employees, ensuring that the entire entity functions and correcting any defects discovered
• Traffic experiments carried out in accordance with traffic schedules
• A two-week test period performed successfully by HKL after the initial start-up of systems

Other issues:

The rolling fire door located at the M level of the Iso Omena shopping centre in Matinkylä will be replaced with the final door solution in order to improve fire safety. This replacement operation will begin next week. The door separates the shopping centre and the metro areas and is located at the top of the metro station’s escalator. In addition, the rolling fire door separating the shopping centre and the station in Niittykumpu will be replaced later on. Work related to a similar door in Lauttasaari is still being completed. These door-related works will have no effect on the commissioning schedule.

The next status update will be given on 15 September.

Further information:

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

Ville Lehmuskoski, Managing Director, HKL, tel. +358 40 520 6710

The progress made in introducing the first phase of the West Metro was presented to the Board.

Progress with the Matinkylä-Kivenlahti line, which forms part of the second phase of the project, was presented to the Board. The excavations on this section are progressing as planned.

Managing Director Ville Saksi presented the project management system. The management system has been revised in accordance with the reorganisation of the project’s second phase. In addition to the Management Team, decision-making within the project is divided between the Project Team, the Design Management Team, the Construction Management Team and the Management Team for the Implementation of Technical Systems.

The Chief Financial Officer of Länsimetro Oy presented the company’s financial situation to the Board. The Managing Director was authorised to begin a tendering exercise and enter into a contract with respect to EUR 25 million of financing for the second phase of the Matinkylä-Kivenlahti line.

The next meeting will be held on 10 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