The plan for the new traffic tunnel in the Sörnäinen area of the capital is progressing after the Helsinki City Government has decided on Thursday morning to submit the proposal to the City Council.
The project, which has fueled years of heated political debate, won a meager 8-7 profit from the city government. The plan was supported by the Coalition Party (NCP), another member of the SDP, the Basic Finns, the Swedish People’s Party, the Christian Democrats and the Movement Now.
The Greens and the Left Alliance opposed the proposal.
The tunnel project has caused controversy between the parties to the board, as a vote to promote the project has already been postponed this week.
The SDP resigned from the decision
The board meeting presented reports on the effects on traffic, with or without a tunnel.
Earlier this week, the SDP’s deputy mayor, Nasima Razmyar, called for the vote to be postponed pending further information on the organization of traffic in the area in the event of the tunnel not being built.
Razmyar expressed concern about the possible rejection of the project without taking into account the negative effects of its intervention on traffic.
The tunnel has caused friction inside the SDP. Even in the city government, the party is divided. The management of the SDP council feared that the dismantling could have resulted in the tunnel not receiving the support needed to move it forward.
Now, however, the tunnel project is progressing to the city council, which is voting on its necessity and possible construction.
The city of Helsinki supports the project
The tunnel has sparked a heated debate between the parties, but reports from the City of Helsinki support the project. According to studies by the city, traffic would become uncontrolled without the proposed tunnel.
However, opponents of the project argue that the tunnel would lead to an increase in traffic, not a decrease.
The purpose of the tunnel is to facilitate north-south traffic by moving car traffic – especially around Kalasatama, Suvilahti and Teurastamo – underground. This would allow for significant improvements in pedestrian and public transport on the ground.
Construction of the controversial tunnel is scheduled to begin as early as next year. The current cost estimate for the 1.6-kilometer tunnel is around € 180 million. If the project is approved and proceeds as planned, it could be opened to traffic in the early 2030s.