Stone attacks prompt Tampere to lock Pispala–Santalahti footbridge at night
Tampere plans to close the Pispala–Santalahti footbridge and its elevator tower at night after repeated vandalism, including large stones used to smash doors and break stair treads.
Tampere has installed gates and is considering keeping the Pispala–Santalahti footbridge and its attached elevator tower closed at night after repeated vandalism, Tamperelainen reports. The gates are already in place.
The pedestrian bridge opened in November two years ago and suffered graffiti and other damage almost from the start. Incidents escalated during late winter. Construction engineer Jukka Rantala says keeping the tower open at night has "become impossible." Large stones taken from the Pispala slopes were used to smash elevator and tower doors and to break stair treads.
According to Aamulehti, the city expects to secure the gates at around 23:00 and reopen the connection each morning before the first tram. The plans also include closing the bridge’s lift and the stairwell during the night, in addition to controlling access via the gates.
The city will set a timetable for nightly closures and announce the details in advance. During the day the route, accessed from Santalahti via an elevator tower attached to an apartment building and exiting onto Pispala main road, remains popular between the two neighbourhoods.
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