Crown Bridges, Helsinki

The Crown Bridges tramway project will be carried out as a combination of two contracting models. The two bridges (Finkensilta and Kruunuvuorensilta) between Kalasatama and Kruunuvuorenranta as well as the preconstruction in Korkeasaari, will be realised as a joint venture with YIT and Kreate. The rest of the construction of the connection will be carried out by an alliance that includes YIT, the City of Helsinki, NRC Group Finland, Ramboll, Sweco and Sitowise.

“In the alliance model, the client, the constructor and the designer sit at the same table at the same time, seeking better solutions more efficiently. And the partners win or lose together. The alliance model is normally used for projects that are complex and involve many risks or potential changes. It works best in such projects,” says Aleksi Laine, YIT’s Head of Traffic Infra Division.

What matters most to the city in the alliance is transparency, which makes it possible to verify justified costs. Clarifying things to politicians also facilitates political decision-making and helps the project move forward.

“We use taxpayers’ money, so we need to be able to convince many people, including ourselves, that the spending is justified. Operationally, cost management is very important,” says Ville Alajoki, project manager representing the City of Helsinki.

Soil decontamination and reneval of street infrastructure

In addition to the construction of new Hakaniemensilta bridge, large-scale land remediation will also be carried out on Hakaniemi shore due to preconstruction, and the bridge overhaul will require the removal of contaminated sediment from the seabed. Their removal and processing shall be carried out in a controlled manner and in accordance with the provisions of the permit.

The city is also renewing a lot of street infrastructure. The tramway line requires changes to underground structures, such as cables and pipes, but future urban development can be taken into account during construction. The Hakaniemi sub-project of the Crown Bridges project won the ‘Roadwork Site of the Year 2024’ competition. In addition, the Crown Bridge won the Concrete Structure of the Year 2025 award.

Test runs of the Crown Bridges tramway will be carried out at the beginning of September 2025 in Laajasalo. The test runs will continue during the rest of the year in Hakaniemi, Kalasatama and Korkeasaari. The last tests on the entire route and on the Kruunuvuorensilta bridge will be carried out at the end of 2025, when the rails and contact wires are ready. The Crown Bridge was opened to pedestrians and cyclists in the spring of 2026, and the current goal for the start of tram traffic is the end of 2026.

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