Tunnels open from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti

The tunnels of the second phase of the West Metro linked when a new connection was excavated between the Espoonlahti and Kivenlahti rail tunnels on 16 February 2018.

The second phase of the West Metro has now linked all the rail tunnels with each other. The excavation contracts began during the period 2015 and 2016, and the tunnels at each site were excavated at the same time. Towards the end, the tunnels were separated from each other by thin rock plugs, which were removed when the excavations progressed to the contract limits.

With the exception of the Espoonlahti–Kivenlahti section, all of the plugs between the rail tunnels were removed in 2017, including the depot connection.  The connection from Matinkylä, the last station of the West Metro’s first phase, to Finnoo, the first station of the second phase, was opened in November 2017.

An approximately three-metre layer of rock, equivalent to some 350 solid cubic metres, was removed in the last breakthrough. The breakthrough was implemented by blasting.

Five new metro stations are being constructed for the second phase west of Matinkylä: Finnoo, Kaitaa, Soukka, Espoonlahti and Kivenlahti. In addition, an underground metro depot will be constructed in Sammalvuori.