Suomela level crossing to close in June as underpasses raised for oversized transports

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (Väylävirasto) announced it will raise the clearances of the Vilppula and Pynnönen underpasses and remove the Suomela level crossing in Mänttä‑Vilppula during June 2026. Work is scheduled to begin in the first week of June and run through the end of the month.

The agency said the changes will allow oversized and heavy transports that currently use the level crossing to pass safely under the railway. "Removing the level crossing improves traffic safety and streamlines use of the rail and road network," project manager Maija Lavapuro of Väylävirasto said.

Under the contract, the Pynnönen underpass beneath Riihikankaantie will be raised to a 5.2‑metre clearance. At the Vilppula underpass on Mäntäntie (main road 347), adjustments will allow a 4.3‑metre height limit. The works are explicitly aimed at creating secure, unobstructed routes for oversized and heavy transports.

Work will be staged to protect road users and nearby properties. Mäntäntie traffic will be reduced to one lane for roughly a week while work is carried out at the Vilppula underpass. Riihikankaantie will be closed for about a week during the Pynnönen works; local access to properties will be maintained, and through traffic will be detoured — regular vehicles via Sammallammintie (main road 14334) and heavy traffic via Mäntäntie (main road 347).

The Suomela level crossing is expected to be taken out of use around 25 June 2026. After that, access from Ratatie (street 43736) to Hopumäentie (main road 14337) will be routed via the Vilppula underpass.