Eastern half of Vihilahti Bridge opens to traffic on 25 June as work shifts west

The Tampereen Ratikan Pirkkala–Linnainmaa -allianssi said the eastern half of the Vihilahti Bridge on Hatanpään valtatie will open to traffic on Thursday, 25 June, and lanes will be shifted onto the new eastern carriageway as work moves to the bridge's western side.

The Vihilahti project forms part of the wider Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram-route construction; earlier phased lane and traffic changes along Hatanpään valtatie helped prepare the corridor for this work phased lane and traffic changes on Hatanpään valtatie. The project also ties into the Viinikanlahti and Hatanpää-area redevelopment that began in spring Viinikanlahti redevelopment and Hatanpää reconfiguration.

"Construction has progressed well, and the eastern half of the bridge will be opened to traffic on schedule. Next we will take the western half into the work area. The new bridge structures will be completed in early summer 2027, after which we will start work on the section of the future tramway in the bridge's central part," said Veetu Helkiö, site manager for structural works at the Tampereen Ratikan Pirkkala–Linnainmaa -allianssi.

The western half of the replacement bridge will include separate lanes for motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The tram will run through the centre on its own corridor, on a grass track once finished. Overall completion of the Vihilahti Bridge is scheduled for 2027.

Traffic arrangements change from 25 June. The west side of Hatanpään valtatie between Lahdenperänkatu and Vihilahdenkatu will become the work area, and traffic lanes, pedestrian paths and cycleways will be moved to the road's eastern edge. The nearby roundabout at Hatanpään valtatie and Lahdenperänkatu will be shifted slightly to the east during the night between Wednesday and Thursday, 24–25 June, with work scheduled between 20:00 and 06:00.

Work on the western span starts with demolition of the old bridge and piling. These activities will generate noise in the area. Demolition is expected to continue until about the end of July, and piling is due to start in early August. Noisy phases are planned on weekdays roughly between 07:00 and 18:00 until early October. Later this year crews will focus on deck construction tasks such as formwork, scaffolding and reinforcement.

The Vihilahti project is one of several bridge works along the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram route. Härmälänoja Bridge and Viinikanlahti Bridge are both due to be completed this year. Härmälänoja will receive tram rails during the summer and finish in August, while Viinikanlahti has recently had one half of its deck concreted and now awaits finishing works. The Pirkkala–Linnainmaa project is around two thirds complete by the end of 2026, with final traffic arrangements due in 2027 and tram services on key sections beginning in August 2028.