The Finnish capital is building a tunnel under Helsinki Central Station for use by pedestrians and cyclists. Set to be completed by 2023, the tunnel hopes to decongest traffic in the city centre while encouraging more people to get cycling. Up to 10,000 cyclists could use the tunnel daily.
Located in the heart of the city, the "Kaisa" bicycle tunnel will be 220m long and will feature a four-meter-wide bicycle path running alongside a pedestrian sidewalk.
Like the famous cycle bridge in Copenhagen, Denmark, once completed, the tunnel will provide a quicker and easier link between the east and west sides of the city's cycling network. Helsinki is working on a vast network of 130km cycle paths which also cover its suburbs.
Currently, cyclists lose time making a detour around the station, and navigating congestion in the area. According to estimates, between 6,000 and 10,000 cyclists could use the tunnel daily.
At the moment, the share of all trips made by bicycle in Helsinki is around 9%, but the aim is to raise this to 20% by 2035. According to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), the tunnel should help reduce carbon emissions by 440 tonnes once cycling volumes rise to the forecasted levels and car traffic goes down.
Note that Helsinki hopes to become carbon-neutral by 2035, an aim supported by the development of an extensive cycling action plan, with the tunnel as its apex. – AFP ETX Studio
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