News

Opening of the West Metro delayed – HSL redesigs bus routes

14.6.2016

The West Metro will not begin operating on 15 August. The Board of Directors of Länsimetro Oy decided on Friday 10 June to postpone the opening of the new line due to a hold-up in the safety testing of the technical systems.

“The construction of the West Metro is a long process. Test runs of all systems are done at the end of the process, just before opening the line. The test runs have proven to be more demanding than we expected,” says the CEO of Länsimetro Oy, Matti Kokkinen. “The opening of the line to passenger traffic must be postponed until we have a safe and functioning Metro line available. It is extremely unfortunate that this inevitably causes significant inconvenience. However, safety is the top priority.”

HSL redesigs bus routes
No new date for the opening of the line has yet been announced. All technical systems must be tested and after the testing is complete, authorities must approve the Metro line’s facilities, systems and equipment before the line can be opened.

“We are extremely sorry for all inconvenience caused to passengers,” says HSL Executive Director Suvi Rihtniemi.”We are now starting to plan bus routes for Espoo and Lauttasaari for the duration of the delay, which may be months.”

In any case, bus routes in Espoo and Lauttasaari change on 15 August and HSL will redesign the new route network to provide replacement bus services from South Espoo, Lauttasaari and Kirkkonummi to Helsinki. HSL is now starting to plan the routes and timetables and information about the new routes will be provided to passengers later during the summer. On the coastal line, trains will be operated with extra carriages at peak times from mid-August.

Unfortunately, bus services from South Espoo and Lauttasaari will not be as extensive as at present because the new routes have already been tendered and the contracts have been signed.

It is not possible to operate the current routes after 14 August because most of the current contracts with operators terminate at the end of the summer timetable season.

“We will do everything we can so that people would be able to travel as conveniently as possible also from South Espoo, Lauttasaari and Kirkkonummi,” says Rihtniemi.

Superstructure construction of the Hyljetie shaft will commence

1.6.2016

SRV Infra will commence the superstructure construction work of the Hyljetie shaft in week 22. The area will be fenced off and topsoil will be removed. Bored poling and earth excavation follow in weeks 24 and 25. Shaft excavation starts towards the beginning of July. At first the shaft will be excavated by open excavation and then through the tunnel below. Signals will be sounded to warn about the open excavation. The open excavation phase will last 3 to 4 weeks.

Further, in the area next to the shaft, excavated rock will be processed for onward transport.
The working hours in all the phases are Monday to Friday, 7.00 to 18.00.

The working hours:
Earth excavation Mon–Fri 7.00–18.00
Overground drilling and blasting Mon–Fri 7.00–18.00
Transport of earth and excavated rock Mon–Fri 7.00–18.00
Screening of excavated rock Mon–Fri 7.00–18.00

If work is done at other times, noise measurements according to the decision of Espoo Environment Department are required. The work will be done between Monday and Friday, 7.00 and 18.00

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the work.

Further information:
Worksite hotline SRV Infra Oy, tel. +358 40 183 0090
Ville Järvinen, Project Manager, SRV Infra Oy, tel. +358 400 128 688
Risto Hast, Site Manager, SRV Infra Oy, tel. +358 400 459 827
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), tel. +358 50 377 3700

Construction of the Opettajantie shaft will commence

31.5.2016

Construction of the Opettajantie shaft started as topsoil was removed from the worksite area. In week 21, the shaft site was fenced off, and overground work has started. At the beginning of June, the work will continue with earth transport and support construction: the future shaft site will be sheeted, i.e. metal sheet walling will be provided to support the shaft.

Insofar as possible, open excavation will start during summer 2016, before the schools start again. No excavation work will be done during school days.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the work.

Further information:
Worksite hotline Destia Oy, tel. +358 40 637 5377
Esa Juhantila, Project Manager, tel. +358 400 539 302
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), tel. +358 50 377 3700

Excavation of Sammalvuori metro depot begins

30.5.2016

The excavation of an access tunnel for the Sammalvuori metro depot has been completed. The Sammalvuori consortium (Kalliorakennus-Yhtiöt Oy, EM Pekkinen Oy, Konevuori Oy, Aro-Systems Oy) will continue with the construction of the depot itself. The consortium will plan, excavate and build the depot (location: see map).

Kalliorakennus-Yhtiöt Oy will act as the excavation contractor. Excavation will begin in June 2016 and end in 2017. The technical construction work will be completed by 2020.

Working hours at the site, as determined by the Espoo Environment Department, are as follows:
Earthwork and excavation work
• Mon-Fri 7.00-18.00 (also 18.00-22.00 and Sat 9.00-18.00, if work done indoors does not cause a disturbance)
Tunnel excavation (grout hole drilling, drilling, scaling)
• Mon-Fri 7.00-18.00 (also 18.00-7.00 and on weekends and weekday bank holidays, if work done indoors does not cause a disturbance)
Blasting in tunnel
• Mon–Fri 7.00–22.00 and Sat 9.00–18.00
Loading of excavated rock and transportation
• Mon-Fri 7.00-22.00 and weekends 9.00-22-00 (also 22.00-7.00 and on weekends and weekday bank holidays, if work done indoors does not cause a disturbance)

A briefing for residents will be held at the Länsimetro office at 18.00 on 2 June at the address Tapiontori 3 A in Tapiola, providing information on the project, building site and excavation.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the work.

Further information:
Worksite hotline Kalliorakennus-Yhtiöt Oy, tel, 050 343 7233
Site Manager Juha Selin, juha.selin(at)kalliorakennus.com
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), tel. +358 46 377 3700

Rescue Services training at west metro stations between May and July

9.5.2016

The Helsinki City Rescue Department and the Länsi-Uusimaa Department for Rescue Services prepare for the launch of metro traffic in August 2016 by holding rescue exercises at metro stations from May to July.

The exercise dates are:
Aalto University 10, 12, 17, 19, 24 and 26 May
Keilaniemi 31 May, and 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10 June
Koivusaari daily 20–23 June
Lauttasaari daily 11–14 July

The exercises employ artificial smoke which may also be visible above ground.

The exercises will not cause interruption to traffic in the area around the stations. Traffic will be directed locally as necessary.

The public are requested as far as possible to avoid the area where the exercise is taking place.

For further information on the exercise, please contact:
Heikki Kervinen, Fire Chief, Länsi-Uusimaa Department for Rescue Services,
tel. +358 50 469 0820
Jani Pitkänen, Fire Chief, Helsinki City Rescue Department,
tel. +358 50 433 6905
Satu Linkola, Communications Manager, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 46 877 3392

Demolition of business wing begins at Soukantie 14

3.5.2016

Two entrances will be constructed to the Soukka metro station, one on Soukantori and the other in Yläkartanontie. In connection with the excavation of the Soukantori entrance, a wing of a commercial building at Soukantie 14 will be demolished. Preparations for the demolition will begin on 2 May. All demolition works will be performed in indoor and basement areas.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Further information:
Skanska Infra Oy, responsible Site Manager Lauri Harri, lauri.harri(at)skanska.fi, worksite telephone +358 50 560 9092
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), tel. +358 50 377 3700

Sammalvuori consortium responsible for the excavation and building contract of the Sammalvuori metro

29.4.2016

The Sammalvuori consortium (Kalliorakennus-Yhtiöt Oy, EM Pekkinen Oy, Konevuori Oy, Aro-Systems Oy) has won the contract for the excavation and construction of the Sammalvuori metro depot. The work is due to begin in May, and the technical construction work will be completed in 2020. The total value of the contract is approximately EUR 51 million.

The contract includes the design, excavation and complete construction of the underground Sammalvuori metro depot.

– The excavation contracts of the second phase rail tunnels and stations are now all in progress. Good, experienced operators are now in place for each station, section of the line and depot. Of the 14 km long section, approximately 1.5 kilometres of the actual metro tunnel is excavated at present, says Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Matti Kokkinen.

The new stations on the seven-kilometre section from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti are Finnoo, Kaitaa, Soukka, Espoonlahti and Kivenlahti. The section will be opened to traffic in 2020. Traffic to Matinkylä will begin on 15 August 2016.

Excavation of the second phase of the West Metro underground line can be followed via the monitoring service on the Länsimetro website. The service shows the progress of the excavation, the rail line and the location of stations and shafts.

Further information:
Matti Kokkinen, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 50 347 1558, matti.kokkinen(at)lansimetro.fi
Länsimetro Oy is a company jointly owned by the Cities of Espoo and Helsinki, tasked with building the West Metro underground line. The Ruoholahti–Matinkylä section will open to the public in August 2016. Construction of the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section is under way. This stretch will be completed in 2020.

Smoke extraction fans to be tested

26.4.2016

West metro smoke extraction fans will be tested in all shafts from Ruoholahti to Tiistilä in Matinkylä. The tested fans will be switched on and operated at full speed for a maximum of one hour. The tests will start running 26 April, on weekdays (Monday to Friday) between 08:00 and 16:00. During the test, a drone will be audible from the shaft. The sound will be stronger when the fans are operated at full speed. Dust may also be blown out from the shafts.

A total of 32 smoke exhaust fans have been installed in the Ruoholahti–Matinkylä section. In case of an emergency, the fans will be used for blowing smoke out through the shafts from underground facilities.

The first phase of Länsimetro to Matinkylä will open to traffic on 15 August 2016.

Further information:
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-3 p.m.), tel. +358 50 377 3700

Excavation work for Espoonlahti metro station and rail tunnels begins

22.4.2016

The excavation for the Espoonlahti metro station and rail tunnels will begin soon, with a consortium established by Finnish company Destia Ltd and Czech company Metrostav a.s. as the excavation contractor. The consortium’s earlier contracts on Länsimetro’s Ruoholahti–Matinkylä section include the access tunnels of Lauttasaari and Koivusaari and a rail tunnel in Karhusaari. The works will commence in April. The excavation will include the Espoonlanti metro station, 1,470 metres of parallel tunnels, two exit shafts and the shafts connected to the station in the area of the present Lippulaiva shopping centre.

In connection with the project, part of Lippulaiva’s underground car park will be demolished. Before the demolition, the car park’s car washing area will be relocated. Furthermore, alterations will be made in Lippulaiva’s western yard area based on the shopping centre’s goods delivery needs.

Working hours at the site, as determined by the Espoo Environment Institute, are as follows:
Earthwork and open excavation
• Mon–Fri 7.00–18.00 (and if no disturbance is caused to people indoors, also 18.00–22.00 and Sat 9.00–18.00)
Tunnel excavation (grout hole drilling, drilling, scaling)
• Mon–Fri 7.00–18.00 (and if no disturbance is caused to people indoors, also 18.00–7.00 and weekends and mid-week holidays)
Blasting in the tunnel
• Mon–Fri 7.00–22.00 and Sat 9.00–18.00
Loading of excavated rock and transportation
• Mon–Fri 7.00–22.00 and weekends 9.00–22.00 (and if no disturbance is caused to people indoors, also Mon–Fri 22.00–7.00 and weekends and mid-week holidays)

Excavation is estimated to continue until the beginning of 2018. The Follow-up-service available on the Länsimetro website shows the rail line and the location of stations and emergency exit shafts. You can also monitor the progress of excavation work at the service.
A briefing for residents will be held at the auditorium of Storängens skola (Espoonlahdentie 10) on 25 April at 18.00, explaining about the project, building site arrangements and excavation.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Further information:
Worksite hotline Destia Oy, tel. +358 40 637 5377
Esa Juhantila, Project Manager, tel. +358 400 539 302
Länsimetro feedback phone number (Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00), tel. +358 50 377 3700

The Destia/Metrostav consortium has won the Espoonlahti station and rail line excavation contract

20.4.2016

The contract for the Espoonlahti station and rail line excavation works has been awarded to a consortium established by Finnish company Destia Ltd and Czech company Metrostav a.s. The works will commence in April 2016 and are due for completion at the beginning of 2018. The total value of the contract is approximately EUR 31.5 million. The excavation will include the Espoonlahti metro station, 1,470 metres of parallel tunnels, two exit shafts and the shafts connected to the station in the area of the present shopping centre.

“Excavation works are already under way at Kivenlahti, Soukka, Kaitaa and Finnoo stations and the rail line between them. Approximately 1.2 kilometres of the 14-kilometre tunnel has been excavated so far. Excavation of the Sammalvuori underground depot will begin later in the spring”, says Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Matti Kokkinen.

The section from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti will be seven kilometres long and include the new stations of Finnoo, Kaitaa, Soukka, Espoonlahti, and Kivenlahti. The line will open in 2020. Trains to Matinkylä will operate from 15 August 2016.

Further information:
Matti Kokkinen, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 50 347 1558, matti.kokkinen(at)ansimetro.fi

Länsimetro Oy is a company jointly owned by the Cities of Espoo and Helsinki, tasked with building the West Metro underground line. The Ruoholahti–Matinkylä section will open to the public in August 2016. Construction of the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section is under way. This stretch will be completed in 2020.