Kehä I (Ring Road I) is the busiest highway in Finland and a major traffic hub in the Greater Helsinki Region. Leppävaara is an important town centre, where up to 70 000 vehicles pass Kehä I daily. The traffic volume is predicted to grow considerably in the following decades: by 50 % on Turunväylä highway and by 20 % on Kehä I.
THE ROAD PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL
The highways Kehä I and Turunväylä have been improved in 2008-2011 in Leppävaara. The project has costed 135 million euros (+VAT). Out of the final costs the state will pay 61 % and Espoo city 39 %.
MESTARINTUNNELI
The traffic on Kehä I highway to east has shifted inside a road tunnel at the northern side of the Rantarata rail line. The tunnel has four lanes in both directions and is approximately 500 metres long, out of which 200 metres has been built in concrete and 300 metres in rock. At its deepest, the tunnel is 20 metres beneath the surface.
MESTARINSOLMU
A new interchange, Mestarinsolmu, has been built in Vallikallio. Subsequent to building the interchange, the two traffic lights that cause congestion in the traffic have been removed. A third lane has been built on Kehä I in both directions reaching from the old Turuntie to the border of Helsinki. The construction work in Vallikallio was finished during fall 2011.
VERMONSOLMU
A new interchange, Vermonsolmu, has been built on Turunväylä highway on the eastern side of Kehä I. It allows direct connections from Vermo and Ruukinranta to Helsinki, and thus reduces traffic on Ring I.
LEPPÄVAARANSOLMU
The functionality of the interchange Leppävaaransolmu has been improved by completing the ramps of the interchange. A direct connection from Turunväylä highway in the direction of Rantarata rail line will be built on Kehä I. Subsequent to completing the ramps, the traffic lights on Kehä I will be removed. Parallell ramps has been built on both sides of Kehä I, improving the safety and functionality of the traffic, as well as connecting the different parts of the city centre. Turunväylä highway will be improved by third lanes in both directions between the interchanges in Kauniainen and Kehä I.
Better traffic flow
Subsequent to improving the highways, traffic congestion will reduce. Intersections replaced by interchanges will prevent dangerous intersection accidents. New ramps on Kehä I highway and new bus stop arrangements have eased the functionality of the public transport. Moving around in Leppävaara area is easier since new passages for light traffic have been built.
A unified city structure
When the traffic shifts from Kehä I highway inside a tunnel, the area will be free for other land use. New buildings, passages for light traffic and green areas will make the city structure more unified. Since the traffic has shifted inside a tunnel, crossing Kehä I highway is easier for pedestrians.
Improved living conditions
New sound barriers have been built in living areas close to Turunväylä and Kehä I, protecting residents from traffic noise. As the traffic has shifted inside a tunnel, the traffic noise have reduced partly. Also the air quality have improved since the traffic flows better.
