Kruunuvuorensilta Bridge to Close for Summer Maintenance and Expansion Joint Repairs
The Kruunuvuorensilta Bridge, connecting Korkeasaari and Kruunuvuorenranta, will undergo multiple closures this summer for maintenance work and repairs to hazardous expansion joints. The City of Helsinki has announced scheduled closures, with some work planned as early as July.
The bridge will be closed on four separate occasions:
- 2–3 July, between 4:00 PM and 6:00 AM,
- 21–22 July, between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM,
- 8 August, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM,
- and 25–26 August, between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
The closures will allow for post-casting, load tests, and repairs to the bridge’s expansion joints, particularly during the final closure period in late August. Ilta-Sanomat reports that the work can only begin after the nesting protection period for archipelago birds in the area has ended.
The need for repairs to the expansion joints came as a surprise, according to the City of Helsinki. Other maintenance tasks were already announced during the bridge’s inauguration in April. The deep joints on the cycle path have been identified as a safety hazard, causing a cycling accident shortly after the bridge opened. MTV Uutiset notes that the joints create a drop of several centimetres, which can jolt bicycle tyres and pose a danger if crossed at high speed. Warning signs and rumble strips have since been installed to alert cyclists.
Kruunuvuorensilta, Finland’s longest bridge, has faced scrutiny since its opening, particularly regarding its design and safety features. The city has acknowledged the issue and is proceeding with corrective measures.