The project will start with the construction areas and access routes on 6 May 2026. The initial phase of the works will mainly affect walking and cycling.
The City of Tampere has signed a contract to start the construction of the Yliopistontunneli tunnel on Viinikankatu. The tunnel is part of the Viinikankatu underground access road, which will continue the underground development of Tampere as the next phase of the Rantaväylä tunnel and underground parking of P-Hämppi. The future tunnel will create a new connection to the underground network fromthe south, i.e. from Helsinki. The Viinikankatu underground access will also create the conditions for a wider development of the Station District: it will allow the underground relocation of parking spaces in the car park adjacent to the railway station and the regeneration of the city centre's most central location for housing, offices and greener urban space.
-Located narrowly between lakes, the city centre of Tampere has no room for growth except upwards or downwards. Building underground allows both at the same time: traffic flows more smoothly, the city centre is more accessible by all modes of transportation and we free up space taken up by parking facilities for a more pleasant urban environment, summarises Tero Tenhunen, Director of Strategic Urban Development.
The first phase of the underground access to Viinikankatu will be the construction of the Yliopistontunneli tunnel, which will provide access in and out of the street. In addition, the section of Viinikankatu between Ratapihankatu and Kalevantie will be renewed. The work will take about two years, after which the excavation of the tunnel will begin.
The project now underway will involve building an access into the tunnel and one lane in each direction along the edges of the carriageway. This will include the construction of retaining walls and paving and the replacement of lighting. The vegetation on the slopes removed during the preparatory works will be restored, taking greater account of biodiversity and providing suitable trees and vegetation for the area.
The changes to the Viinikankatu will also include the renewal of the pedestrian and bikeways: the sidewalk and bikeway will be separated and the western bikeway will, when completed, form part of the main regional route.
The project will start with the construction to ensure safe passage past the site throughout the works. At the end of 2026, an isolated, partially covered and illuminated route will be opened for pedestrians and cyclists, separated from the construction site and motor traffic. Once completed, the route past the construction site will remain the same for all modes of transport until the end of the construction of the Yliopistontunneli tunnel.
During the construction of this safe route, Viinikankatu will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists. For approximately six months, pedestrians and cyclists will be guided via Ratapihankatu, Kanslerinrinne and Kalevantie in both directions. The preparatory work started on Kalevantie will continue until May, so for a few weeks they will also have to bypass the Tampere-Talo along Yliopistonkatu.
The impact of the construction on motor vehicle traffic will be less, as through access in both directions on Viinikankatu will be maintained throughout the construction. One lane will remain available in both directions with a reduced speed limit of 30 km/h.
The Yliopistontunneli tunnel is connected to the Viinikankatu underground access road, which is part of a joint procurement between the City of Tampere and Finnpark Parkisto Oy. The City of Tampere's €50 million contribution to the joint procurement of the Viinikankatu underground access road was approved by the City Council on 16 September 2024.
The City of Tampere will build the first part of the access road from Viinikankatu to the first roundabout. The contractor for the Yliopistontunneli tunnel is Kreate Oy.
