Esplanade extension
The 2-3.5 meter wide expansion areas reserved for pedestrians and seats will be built on both the South and North Esplanade. Construction of the expansion area begins at the northern end of Pohjoisesplanadi next to Kauppatori with the construction of concrete borders. After that, stone surfaces and rain gutters are installed.
After May Day, the work will expand to the southern end of Esplanadi and Erottajankatu. There will also be a two-way bike path at the southern end of the esplanade. The renovated area continues seamlessly to Erottajankatu, where there will be benches and flowers, and the pedestrian area will expand significantly. The expansion areas of the Esplanade will be built as wooden surfaces in some places. The installation of the wooden surfaces will start in the middle of May from the direction of Kauppatori.
When construction begins, the Esplanade will have only one lane. A structure intended for pedestrian use may cause temporary inconvenience.
The construction works of Kesäkatu and Lönnrotinkatu will continue in May and June
In addition to the changes at the Esplanade, the change can also be seen on Lönnrotinkatu. The new bike path will be built in May-June, when the weather permits road markings.
The summer street areas of Kasarmikatu and Designmuseo aukio start in May. For example, the Design Museum has terrace activities and plantings. Existing furniture will be used, which the carpenters of Stara, the construction service of the city of Helsinki, will modify and refurbish based on the feedback received from last summer.
Expanding pedestrian areas is part of Helsinki’s goal of a vibrant downtown area with thriving brick-and-mortar businesses, comfortable places to hang out and meet, and a unified network of pedestrian streets.
The construction project’s contractor is Stara, the City of Helsinki’s construction service.
HT
Source: The Nordic Page