City of Helsinki

05/03/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/04/2023 07:11

Renovation of Mannerheimintie will close the Baana underpass on 15 May

The setting up of the traffic arrangements will begin on Sunday evening 14 May.

As the construction progresses on the bridge, the underpass must be closed several times. The preliminary schedule is as follows:

  • First closure from May until the end of June.
  • Second closure tentatively in August.
  • Third closure later in the autumn / later this year.
  • After this, the other side of the bridge will be renewed, leading to a tentative fourth and fifth closure.

Because of the demolition work and to keep people safe, the underpass will be closed during the work.

Pedestrian traffic and cyclists diverted

Pedestrian traffic and cyclists will be diverted from the underpass. See the routes in the below map. The shortest detour from west will be up the ramp next to the Little Parliament annex and across the pedestrian crossing at Kiasma to Kansalaistori Square.

An alternative route after the ramp is to pass in front of the Parliament Building and cross Mannerheimintie
at Musiikkitalo and take Töölönlahdenkatu to Kansalaistori Square or Töölönlahti Bay. Detours will be marked along the route.

Recommended detours for cyclists

We recommend taking other routes when the Baana underpass is closed. The below map contains some alternative routes.

The Baana underpass at Mannerheimintie can also be avoided from further away. For example, from the north, via Töölönlahti Bay, the Hesperia Esplanade and Mechelininkatu; from the south, via Bulevardi.

Underpass open during running events

The Baana underpass will remain open on 27 May for the Naisten Kymppi women's run and on 10 June for the Helsinki Half Marathon.

Helsinki's second oldest bridge still in use

As part of the Mannerheimintie renovation, the bridge over Baana will be entirely renewed. This bridge is from 1894 and Helsinki's second oldest bridge.

An externally similar bridge will replace the old one. The underpass must be closed because of the demolition of the old bridge. The demolition will begin on the Kansalaistori side. Driving on the bridge will be possible throughout the renovation, meaning that motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians can cross the bridge during the construction work.