Temporary pedestrian and cycle bridge built across Tammerkoski as rapids are drained for piling

Workers began building a temporary pedestrian and cycle bridge across Tammerkoski today as the rapids are drained to allow piling work, YLE reports. The emptying will last until Wednesday morning while bearing piles are installed on the riverbed.

The bridge will replace the Valssipadonraitin section closed for renovation. It will span between Vanhankirjastonpuisto and Koskipuisto, below the Keskiputous hydropower plant at the level of the riverbank retaining walls. The six-metre-wide structure has a steel frame, wooden deck and 1.2-metre-high mesh railings. Its piles, beams and decking have been reused from earlier projects. They arrived from Mustanlahti harbour after serving as a work bridge for Särkänsilta and during construction of the Hakaniemi bridge in Helsinki.

Piling on the dry riverbed will generate short-term noise and disturbance to the surrounding area for a few days. The temporary bridge is scheduled to open to pedestrians and cyclists around the turn of June and July. The work follows the city's May plan to widen Valssipadonraitti and install a temporary pedestrian and cycle crossing while the Patosilta bridge is demolished.