News

The West Metro will open for service at the end of 2015. Factors contributing to delays to the original schedule were appeals concerning the Espoo land use plan leading to a delay to the start of construction as well as the technical constraints for construction which were specified during the course of this spring.

The construction schedule for the West Metro has been examined during the spring at several working groups. The objective was to draw up a schedule that would be the most realistic and practicable possible.

– We wish to allocate sufficient time for the testing of both the automatic trains and other systems. Most of the rock blasting works will be completed by the end of 2012. After this, the fitting out of the excavated tunnels and stations will begin, explains Länsimetro Oy’s Managing Director Matti Kokkinen.

The completion of the West Metro is keenly awaited in the surrounding areas of the future metro stations. The opening of the metro service will be of great significance for investment decisions concerning the stations’ surrounding areas.

– Our schedule must be strict but at the same time viable. This schedule will enable us to construct and test the metro in a reliable way, and this is what we are at present able to commit to, states Olavi Louko, Chairman of the Board of Länsimetro Oy.

The rock blasting works for the access tunnels in Otaniemi, Keilaniemi and Karhusaari will commence in July

Länsimetro’s Board of Directors also decided on the selection of rock blasting contractors for the Otaniemi, Keilaniemi and Karhusaari access tunnels. The Otaniemi access tunnel rock blasting contract will be carried out by YIT Rakennus Oy and those of the Keilaniemi and Karhusaari tunnels by Kalliorakennus-Yhtiöt Oy. The total value of these three contracts is in excess of EUR 6 million.

At its deadline, the invitation to tender had received submissions from all eight operators that had passed the first tender phase including operators from the Czech Republic and Sweden. The objective is to sign the agreements in June-July. The works in Otaniemi, Keilaniemi and Karhusaari will commence during July. Prior to the start of the blasting work inspections will be carried out on all properties in the area. An information event for the residents and property owners/users in the area will be organised on Tuesday 15 June at 6 p.m. at the premises of The Geological Survey Finland (GTK).

In Espoo, the works for the West Metro will begin first in Tapiola, where in the beginning of June the ground excavation for the access tunnel for the West Metro and its Tapiola Central Car Park will commence in the vicinity of the Merituulentie and Etelätuulentie roads, at the site of the previous dog park. Preparations for the construction site there are already underway. The City of Espoo will be responsible for carrying out the ground excavation work, and a ground breaking ceremony for the Espoo works will take place at the site on 1 June.

For further information, please contact

Olavi Louko, Chairman of the Board, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)500 607 754

Matti Kokkinen, Managing Director, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)50 347 1558, email matti.kokkinen@lansimetro.fi

The metro station to be built south of Urheilupuisto in Tapiola has been given a new name. The station will be called Urheilupuisto. This name (Urheilupuisto = Sports Park) is descriptive of the services available in this area.

The Urheilupuisto (formerly Jousenpuisto) station is located at Niittymaa, on the northern edge of Jousenpuisto, on a vacant city-owned plot south of the tennis halls (aerial photo). The station is characterised by the vicinity of the sports park and a variety of sports facilities from tennis halls to floorball fields and the ice stadium.

The construction phase of the west metro is set to begin in Ruoholahti later this year. Initial inspections will be carried out on all buildings in the immediate vicinity of the future metro line prior to the start of excavation.

The aim of the inspections is to examine the structure and condition of the buildings and to document property. Along with the examination procedures, any fragile equipment in flats and offices will be protected. A closing inspection will be carried out on all property once the construction project is complete and any resulting damage recorded. Länsimetro is responsible for the compensation of any and all damage to property caused by their excavation work.

Inspections in the Ruoholahti area apply to all property located within 150 metres of the metro tunnel to be excavated. The Ruoholahti project covers excavation work of the tunnel from Ruoholahti metro station to the waterfront at Salmisaari.

The inspections will be carried out by Länsimetro’s expert partner, Kalliotekniikka Consulting Engineers Ltd. The company will contact the owner or house manager of each building in order to make arrangements for the exact time of inspection. Detailed information about inspection times and procedures will be provided beforehand.

Länsimetro will also be organising an information event for the residents of the Ruoholahti area before construction work begins. Further information about the event will be posted well in advance, both on the Länsimetro website and in local newspapers.

The Environmental Centre of Uusimaa has approved the notification submitted by Länsimetro Oy regarding the temporary disturbance to be created by its activities at Ruoholahti. The period for such work has been defined by the centre as principally between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays (Monday to Friday).

Work at Ruoholahti referred to in the notification covers drilling into the rock as preparation for mounting the protection of the existing metro turnaround line, widening of the access tunnel mouth, and excavation work in connection with the access tunnel, rail tunnel and vertical shaft. The work phases that will generate noise are rock drilling, blasting and scaling (removal of loose boulders from the rock wall).
Excavation work above ground consisting of drilling, blasting and scaling may be carried out on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. If drilling or scaling is to be carried out between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. the consequent noise level in residential buildings, hospitals and hotels must not exceed 40 dB. If blasting is to be carried out after 6 p.m., the timing of the blasts needs to be communicated to the parts of the area most affected by the noise and vibration.

Underground tunnel drilling and scaling may be carried out from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. If work is to be carried out between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. the consequent noise level in residential buildings, hospitals and hotels must not exceed 40 dB. Tunnel blasting may be performed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays.

In order to preserve current metro traffic arrangements, drilling connected with mountings for protective structures may only be performed at night between midnight and 5 a.m. Diamond drilling or the equivalent will be used to maintain noise levels below the standard value of 30 dB for residential buildings, hospitals and hotels.

Rock mass excavated at Ruoholahti will be transported to Jätkäsaari along the route Salmisaarenkatu – Porkkalankatu – Laivapojankatu – Jätkäsaari. Blasted rock will not be transported along residential streets at night between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The Environmental Centre of Uusimaa’s approval of the notification is based on the Government Decision concerning standard values for noise levels. The level of noise permitted can be compared to approximately 20 dB for the rustle of leaves, 40 dB for whispering, and 60 dB for the normal speaking voice.

The preliminary contract period for the Ruoholahti access and metro tunnels is scheduled for November 2009 to May 2011, to be updated once contractors have been selected. Details of construction work will be communicated to local residents and operators before the work begins, and at regular intervals throughout the construction period. Länsimetro Oy will carry out real-time monitoring of excavation vibration and progress, as well as noise, vibration and other environmental impacts arising from the work.

Further information:

Länsimetro Project Engineer Tero Palmu, tel. +358 46 877 432, tero.palmu@lansimetro.fi
Länsimetro CEO Matti Kokkinen, tel. +358 50 347 1558, matti.kokkinen@lansimetro.fi

Länsimetro

Länsimetro Oy is responsible for the technical implementation of the Ruoholahti-Matinkylä metro line, involving construction, ownership, maintenance and development of the tracks, tunnels, station structures and parking spaces serving traffic on the 13.9 kilometres of underground metro line, as well as other structures and equipment in support of its operation. The west metro will bring into existence seven new stations. Construction of the west metro is through a joint project involving the cities of Espoo and Helsinki. Länsimetro’s office is situated in Tapiola. www.lansimetro.fi