The underpass at Itsenäisyydenkatu will be closed to traffic in June until 2031 - The Tram will operate
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency informs that the renewal of the Tampere railway station area -project will close the Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass to all traffic except the tramway from 1 June 2026. The closure will last until the completion of the project in 2031. Over the next few years, the Tampere railway station area will undergo a major transformation. Traffic arrangements will remain largely unchanged from here on out.
View of the underpass at Itsenäisyydenkatu after the completion of the project. The project will not change the façade of the railway station, but will leave the building as a familiar Tampere landmark from Hämeenkatu.
Construction is progressing on the Tampere railway area -project and the city's main routes, the underpass at Itsenäisyydenkatu, will be closed to motor traffic at the beginning of June. Ratikka will run normally despite the construction work. The road has been closed to pedestrians and cyclists since April 2025.
-The closure of the underpass is an absolute condition for the works to proceed. The bridges over the underpass will be demolished and rebuilt, making the tunnel unsafe to travel in except by the Tram. Without the closure, the project would take much longer to complete, says Tapani Läärä, project engineer at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.
Motor vehicle traffic will be diverted to alternative connections via Kalevantie and Sorinsilta, Lapintie and Pohjolankatu.
Significant changes to the railway station area
The Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass at Tampere railway station serves as a traffic hub for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and the Tram. The underpass is crossed by four railway bridges.
The current condition of the underpass tunnel is poor, including lighting and surfaces, and the tunnel does not meet current requirements in terms of features, dimensions or maintenance. Over the next few years, the tunnel will be replaced, including the surface structures. The railway bridges over the underpass will be dismantled and rebuilt as longer ones, allowing a new passenger terminal to be built underneath them, adjacent to the station building.
-The tunnel surfaces, lighting and walkways will be replaced. A bicycle park will also be built, as well as lifts and escalators for the platform area. The old station tunnel will be demolished and replaced by a passenger terminal with a tram stop in front of it at the underpass of Itsenäisyydenkatu. The construction will proceed on the terms of the train traffic above, says Jussi Kiuru, Project Manager at contractor Kreate Oy.
Traffic arrangements remain largely unchanged
In Tampere, the railway station area is currently being redesigned to meet growing traffic volumes and future needs. Work is underway to modify the yard, build a new third intermediate platform, demolish the first platform bridge and build lift and escalator connections in the passenger centre tunnel. The Erkkilänsilta bridge, part of the project, has been completed and will be opened to pedestrians and cyclists on 28 May at 3pm.
-The Erkkilänsilta bridge will be open to motor traffic during the summer, once the finishing works are completed, which will help to facilitate east-west traffic in the city. Apart from the closure of the Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass, no other significant changes to traffic are expected, says Läärä.
Changes to public transport
Nysse informs that the closure of the underpass will lead to changes in the routes of the bus lines crossing the underpass.The ram will run through the tunnel as normal.
Buses 6, 42 and 90 will move from Rautatienkatu to Yliopistokatu. The terminus of line 6 will continue to be Sorin aukio E on Suvantokatu. Buses 42 and 90 will run to the bus station.
Line 29 runs via Tammela and Armonkallio. In addition, district heating work is starting at the northern end of Rautatienkatu, which means that the Kyttälä stops on Rongankatu will be closed until the autumn. The stops will be replaced by Vapriikki stops on Lapintie.
