Tram rails now cross Tampere–Pirkkala border as Härmälänoja bridge nears full opening

The City of Tampere says rails now link Tampere and Pirkkala at the Härmälänoja crossing as the new bridge nears full opening this autumn.

Work involves two separate bridges: the north span opened to traffic in autumn 2025, while the south span is being completed with tram tracks, a car lane and a combined pedestrian and cycle route. Traffic is scheduled to be shifted to run on both sides of the bridge around September. A regional cycling route and pedestrian path run along the north edge and will be finished this autumn. The tram will use a central fixed rail embedded in asphalt.

Engineers slightly realigned the Härmälänoja stream to straighten the bridges. They added erosion protection and created a more varied channel, intended to resemble its 1950s form. Biodiversity measures include mixed tree plantings.

At Härmälänranta the tram stop is taking shape. The southern platform's large stones and shelter foundations are in place, while paving and final rail installations proceed along Nuolialantie. Track-laying continues in Partola toward Kenkätie. Cobbling and asphalt works will run through late summer, and by autumn most vehicle traffic in Partola will be using its final routes.

The Härmälänoja work is part of the first phase of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram line, which also includes the Vihilahti and Viinikanlahti bridges. Viinikanlahti bridge on Hatanpää Highway will be completed this year. Vihilahti's first half was finished in June 2026, and the full bridge is due in 2027. Around two-thirds of the line's construction should be finished by the end of 2026, and final traffic arrangements will come into use in 2027. The City of Tampere says tram service between Sorin aukio and Partola stops, and between Kauppi campus and Ruotula, is scheduled to start in August 2028.