News

Confirmed: the metro’s structure-borne noise levels will remain below recommended values

21.3.2017

When the traffic on the West Metro line begins, the metro will be a fairly silent affair, as revealed by the measurements of Akukon Oy, the company responsible for the noise abatement designs of the metro. Akukon has measured in the buildings near the metro line the so-called structure-borne noise, i.e. the noise of the metro train transmitted through the bedrock. Without noise abatement, the sound of the metro train passing underground could be heard as a booming sound in nearby buildings.

Control measurements performed late last year and early this year show that the noise insulation designed by Akukon are functioning everywhere the way they should – up to the point where the metro noise actually remains significantly below recommended values. In practice, the noise made by the metro cannot be heard in the buildings above the metro line, and even in silent spaces, they cannot be distinguished from other background noise.

The check-ups involved four different locations, representing all materials used in the insulation of the structure-borne noise of the metro. The measurement locations were purposefully selected among those with the potentially highest noise levels: houses directly above the rail on the crest of the rock or from rocky areas. Measurements were always performed at the lowest floor of each building.

“We have succeeded with the design, material choices and building of the West Metro in that the noise of the metro will not disturb people living or working in the area,” says Timo Peltonen, Technical Director at Akukon Oy.

Noise abatement was designed combining empirical professional knowledge gathered over decades and computer-assisted 3D modelling. This made it possible to predict which houses and areas could be the most exposed to structure-borne noise and to choose suitable materials for noise abatement.

Steel rails are now resting on a bed of macadam and noise insulation. A mat under the macadam helps to absorb the vibration travelling from the tracks to the bedrock. The noise insulation has been installed throughout the West Metro line excluding sections that pass under the sea or the Länsiväylä motorway, as it is not needed there.

Further information: Timo Peltonen, Technical Director, Akukon Oy: tel. +358 50 584 9814
timo.peltonen@akukon.fi

 

 

Excavations near Maininkitie until the end of 2017

14.3.2017

Excavation work in Espoonlahti to continue until the end of 2017

Rail tunnels of the West Metro’s second phase are being excavated in Espoonlahti. The rail tunnels to the west will be completed in August 2017 and the depot junctions and the Maininkitie shaft by the end of 2017.

In the near future, in early April 2017, superstructure construction work will begin at the Espoonlahdenkatu entrance. This work will also continue until the end of 2017. Excavation of the upper parts of the Maininkitie shaft and its collar structures will be completed in April–May 2017.

In addition to the metro worksite at Espoonlahti, other work under way in the area includes the construction of a shopping centre by Citycon Oyj and street construction by the City of Espoo. Information about these is available through their own communication channels.

Excavation work in Kivenlahti well under way

The last station of the West Metro’s second phase will be in Kivenlahti, where excavation work is well under way. The Kivenlahti tunnel’s eastern end, i.e. the affected area of Maininkitie, will be completed within approximately two months, after which bolt-boring will continue for around a month. The drilling work will be undertaken on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and excavation blasting on weekdays before 10 p.m.

Excavation work at Kivenlahti station and its western end will continue until July–August.

The largest excavation work in Sammalvuori to be completed in June

As part of the West Metro’s second phase, an underground depot is being constructed in Sammalvuori. This night time depot for metro trains will also include maintenance facilities. Approximately half of the excavations for the connection rails have been done, and the aim is to complete the excavation of the largest masses by the end of June 2017. Blasting in Sammalvuori takes place on weekday mornings, usually around 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and in the evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Occasional blasting work may take place at other times.

Excavation of the shaft for the Sammalvuori gate has now been completed next to the S-Market in Kivenlahti. The next step will be reinforcement work, to be followed by construction work. Fixed vibration measurement units have been placed extensively in the area, and more of these will be added if needed as the excavation work progresses.

Further information:

24-hour hotline for the Sammalvuori site: +358 50 343 7233

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

24-hour hotline for the Kivenlahti site: +358 50 342 2461

Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), tel. +358 50 377 3700

Excavated rock loaded in Sammalvuori on a new timetable

10.3.2017

Excavated rock at west metro’s Sammalvuori depot site will be dumped, loaded and screened between 6 March and 30 June 2017 on a new timetable. The timetable has been adjusted.

The noise permit complied with states that excavated rock transported out of the tunnel may be dumped on the north-east side of the tunnel mouth at Sammalvuori metro depot on weekdays (Mon–Fri) at 7.30–22.00 and, if needed, on Saturdays at 9.00–18.00.

Excavated rock transported out and stored overground may be loaded on weekdays at 7.00–17.30, and screening of excavated rock is allowed on weekdays (Mon–Fri) at 8.00–17.30.

Furthermore, a noise embankment is being built on the edge of the site, and it is estimated to be completed by 18 March.

Further information:

24-hour hotline for the site, Sammalvuori consortium, tel. +358 50 343 7233

Site Manager Juha Selin, juha.selin@kalliorakennus.com
Länsimetro feedback phone number, Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00, tel. +358 50 377 3700

Helsinki City Rescue Department training at the Koivusaari station from 27 February to 2 March

27.2.2017

The Helsinki City Rescue Department will train firefighting and personal rescue on 27 and 28 February and 1 March at the Koivusaari station, and on 2 March there and at the Katajaharju shaft. The training will take place from 11 am to 2 pm each day. The rescue exercises are part of the West Metro’s introduction into use.

The purpose of the training is to practice rescue missions using the West Metro’s security systems. This is also a cooperation exercise between various actors such as the Helsinki City Rescue Department and the Länsi-Uusimaa Department for Rescue Services, the Metro Control Room and other personnel of Helsinki City Transport (HKL), emergency care and the police.

During the training, several rescue vehicles will be parked around the Koivusaari station and nearby shafts. Theatrical smoke will be used in the exercise, and this may reach the surface near the training locations.

The Koivusaari station is located at the address Sotkatie 11. The Katajaharju shaft is at Isokaari 33.

Further information:

Jani Pitkänen, Fire Chief, Helsinki City Rescue Department, tel. +358 (0)50 433 6905

Excavation work for Sammalvuorenportti shaft begins

24.2.2017

The actual excavation work at the Sammalvuori metro depot, i.e.  the Sammalvuorenportti shaft, will start in week 7. The shaft worksite area is located between Kivenlahdentie and Länsiväylä, close to the ABC service station. The excavation of the shaft will be carried out through the tunnel below. Work at the shaft began in October 2016 with the superstructure construction work followed by open excavation above ground.

Further information:

24-hour hotline for the site, Sammalvuori consortium, tel. +358 50 343 7233

Site Manager Juha Selin, juha.selin@kalliorakennus.com
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00) +358 50 377 3700

Summary of decisions 16 February 2017: The procurement strategy for the second phase was presented

20.2.2017

The procurement strategy for the second phase of the West Metro project was presented to the Board of Länsimetro Oy at its meeting on 16 February 2017. The procurement strategy will take into account experiences from the first phase. The goals of the strategy include ensuring adequate competition and clear contract scoping. The procurement strategy will also emphasise dialogue between the different parties during the procurement phase and cooperation with the contractor during contract implementation. Länsimetro’s procurements will be announced in the public procurement system HILMA.

The report commissioned by the Board was presented to the Board. The Board will continue to discuss the matter in its next meeting in March.

The Board also approved Länsimetro Oy’s financial statement as well as a proposal that the organisation responsible for building the West Metro will move into shared premises during the spring.

The Board also approved a policy to draw up a summary of decisions made after every Board meeting. According to the City of Espoo’s corporate group guidelines, the City’s major subsidiaries must prepare a public summary of decisions made at Board meetings.

The next meeting will be held on 1 March 2017.

Further information:

Ville Saksi, MD, 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 total expenses of West Metro amount to EUR 1,186 million – the MD is replaced

21.11.2016

The forecast of the total expenditure of the West Metro projects amounts to EUR 1,186 million. Länsimetro Oy will need an increase of a total of EUR 104 million for the loan guarantee, to be granted by the City of Espoo and the City of Helsinki. Furthermore, the Board of Länsimetro Oy today appointed civil engineer Ville Saksi the new Managing Director of the company.

The cost of construction will rise from EUR 1,088 million to EUR 1,154 million. The indexed budget for construction work under the project, taking the entire scope of the project plan (2008) into account, amounts to EUR 849 million (with the project plan covering EUR 714 million, to which an index increase of EUR 135 million must be added). The forecast was raised by an increase in the number of units and the fact that the construction took longer than anticipated and by other similar factors. Furthermore, the new forecast takes account of various needs, including the need of spare parts and the facility services, which must be in place before traffic is initiated. Building contracts under the project have been implemented in a form know as the unit price contract between 2013 and 2016. Changes to the scope of construction, due to, for example, official regulations, led to an increase in the number of units under construction contracts. The sum of the final cost will be available only after the construction is complete.

Central to the cost increase under the project plan have been contracts that turned out to be more difficult than expected, changes to construction regulations, and an increase in space requirements, including technical facilities, smoke extraction and the requirements for accessibility at the both entrances of the stations.

The total cost of the project amounts to EUR 1,186 million. The total cost includes a contingency amounting to EUR 32 million. The government subsidy is EUR 249 million.

In connection with the West Metro project, the Niittykumpu station, the Matinkylä terminal and the western entrance to the Matinkylä station will also be constructed, in accordance with a separate decision made by the Espoo City Council. The cost forecast for this amounts to EUR 80 million.

As the estimated cost keeps going up, the project management needs to apply for an additional guarantee both from the City of Espoo and the City of Helsinki. The need for additional funding will be brought before the councils of both cities. Additional funding seeks to take account of all possible expenses in order to ensure that construction can be completed before traffic is initiated.

On 14 November, the Board of Länsimetro Oy decided that civil engineer Ville Saksi be appointed the new MD of the company. He will immediately begin in his new post. Previously, Ville Saksi was the MD of VR Track Oy.

The schedule for the opening of West Metro to traffic will be finished as soon as the joint testing of three stations is completed by the turn of November and December. The joint testing of the Aalto University station has been completed.  The joint testing of the Tapiola and Keilaniemi is about to start. After this, joint testing will continue at the Koivusaari, Lauttasaari, Urheilupuisto, Niittykumpu and Matinkylä stations.

Stabilisation work begins at the Riilahti shaft

14.11.2016

Stabilisation work at the Riilahti shaft will begin in week 46. Stabilisation involves the installation of 125 concrete pillars in order to prevent any land subsidence. Pillar stabilisation will take approximately 5 weeks. After this, the installation of drilled piles will begin at the shaft at the beginning of 2017, in week 2. The estimated duration of drilled pile installation is 7 weeks. According to a preliminary estimate, shaft excavation will begin in September 2017. This will be carried out by drilling above the ground. The actual entrance shaft will be excavated from underneath in the tunnel. Signals will be sounded to warn about any excavation. Work in the area will continue into the latter part of 2017.

The working hours for all phases of superstructure construction are Monday to Friday, 7.00 to 18.00.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the work.

Further information:
Site Manager in charge of shaft, John Uusipuro, SRV Infra Oy, tel. +358 440 330 658
Worksite hotline SRV Infra Oy, tel. +358 40 183 0090
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), tel. +358 50 377 3700

Date of start of traffic to be confirmed after three stations tests completed

4.11.2016

The joint test run testing of the Aalto University station has ended. The fire tests were run again to ensure the systems function together. It will be possible to estimate when metro traffic will start after joint test runs of three stations have been conducted.

The purpose of the joint test runs is to test the different systems, such as building technology, safety automation, power supply monitoring, physical access control, fire-extinguishing systems, reserve power and smoke ventilation, in various emergencies and their restoration to normal after an emergency. The joint test runs will be conducted at every eighth station and on the rail line.

The final joint test runs at the Aalto University station were acceptably completed last week. A short and long power cut, fire on the platform and on the line, and preparedness for flooding were tested at the Aalto University station.

“The first joint test run has now been successfully completed. The experiences at the Aalto University station will be utilised at the other stations. This week, the operation of individual systems will be ensured before the joint test run at the Tapiola and Keilaniemi stations,” says Matti Kokkinen, CEO of Länsimetro Oy.

The joint test run will include the suppliers of various systems, contractors, Helsinki City Transport (HKL) and the emergency services, if necessary. The situation will be monitored on site and from Helsinki City Transport’s metro control room in Herttoniemi, where the metro’s operations and traffic are overseen. At the same time, it will be possible to conduct joint test runs at two stations.

“The testing phase will take longer than expected, but it is necessary for starting traffic. The date of starting traffic will become clearer after joint test runs of three stations,” says Olli Isotalo, Chairman of the Board of Länsimetro Oy.

The Rescue Departments of Espoo and Helsinki will approve the security systems on the basis of the test results. After this, the building authorities of Helsinki and Espoo will be free to approve the use of the stations and rail tunnels. Helsinki City Transport (HKL) will ensure that the track engineering security systems are working properly. Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) will decide when passenger traffic begins and when feeder bus lines start operating.

Further information:

Länsimetro Oy, CEO Matti Kokkinen, tel. +358 (0)50 347 1558

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

Länsimetro preparing for joint test runs of stations

2.11.2016

Construction of stations is almost complete. Joint test runs of stations will begin at the Aalto University Station in early September. Preliminary tests have been conducted at the station in advance to ensure the preconditions for the joint test runs. Tests by contractors and the client’s operational tests will continue at other stations.

The last phase will be a joint test run. The joint test run will ensure that the metro is safe to use and that all systems function together. In addition the station tested, the joint test run will test the functioning of adjacent stations and the metro line as a whole. System operations will be trialled using several emergency drills. Particular attention will be paid to restoring systems to normal after incidents. Testing will take several days. The joint test run will include the suppliers of various systems, contractors and the emergency services if necessary. The situation will be monitored on site and in the Herttoniemi metro control room, where the metro’s operations and traffic are overseen.

The opening schedule for the metro will be specified in October after sufficient tests have been performed. The Helsinki and Espoo City Rescue Departments will approve the security systems, based on the test results. After this, the cities’ building authorities are free to approve the use of the stations and the rail tunnels. Helsinki City Transport (HKL) will ensure that the track engineering security systems, including semaphore systems and indicators, are working properly. According to the current estimate, the metro will be ready for passenger traffic by January 2017 at the latest. Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) will decide when passenger traffic begins and when feeder bus lines start operating.

Ventilation shafts as high as the Helsinki Olympic Stadium tower

Each station is a vast entity. Some 10,000 cubic metres of concrete has been cast at each station. The platform is 90 m long and 12-16 metres wide. Technical systems at both ends of the platform occupy approximately the same space on several floors.

The enclosed picture shows the Tapiola metro station placed at Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The ventilation shafts are approximately as high as the Stadium tower and the passenger hall covers almost one half of the Stadium field. Eight of such stations have been built.

Photomontage: APRT Arkkitehtityöhuone Artto Palo Rossi Tikka Oy.