Summer of Bridges: Three bridges were completed in June
The new bridges will strengthen connections between the city centre and the waterfront routes, make getting around smoother, and link different areas more closely together. At the same time, residents will have new opportunities to experience the city in different ways — whether for daily commutes, outdoor activities, or leisure.
– The completion of three bridges in the same month is a testament to the determined and multifaceted development of the city centre. Each has been carefully designed for its specific purpose: the Erkkilänsilta Bridge over the railroad tracks in a challenging environment, the Vesitehtaansilta Bridge to ease daily life amid changes in the area, and the Särkänsilta Bridge as a new landmark being part of the area’s broader development. The new bridges are not merely thoroughfares; they also bring new perspectives to the city, summarizes Ilkka Porttikivi, Deputy Mayor for the Urban Environment.
The Erkkilänsilta Bridge streamlines traffic in the city centre
The Erkkilänsilta Bridge opened to all traffic in mid-June as part of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s project to develop the Tampere railway station area. The bridge features clearly designated spaces for different modes of transportation, and a new feature is a separate lane for cyclists. The opening of the bridge helps improve east-west travel within the city.
The bridge’s appearance has changed from turquoise blue to brick red, which is evident in the railing posts and panels as well as the bicycle lanes. Patterned polycarbonate panels, which are significantly more durable than ordinary glass, are used for the railings.
Completed in the 1980s, the bridge was completely renovated to accommodate the expansion of the rail line, the new Naistenlahti railcar maintenance area, and changes to the rail yard. The new bridge is wider than the previous one and is suitable for a wider range of uses.
The Vesitehtaansilta Bridge strengthens walking and biking connections
The Vesitehtaansilta Bridge opened to pedestrians and cyclists in Viinikanlahti in early June. Approximately 40 meters long and nine meters wide, the steel-beam bridge arches low between old trees and connects the lakeside paths at Viinikanoja. The bridge’s design was inspired by two fallen tree trunks that form a path across the bay. The bridge’s lighting was also designed to be unobtrusive and is strictly confined to the bridge deck.
The spacious bridge is designed for a busy main cycling route, and crossing it facilitates a seamless connection toward the city centre. At the same time, the bridge offers views of Lake Pyhäjärvi.
The bridge has been given a unique name, Vesitehtaansilta, in honor of the wastewater treatment plant that is being demolished, a name that pays tribute to its history. The bridge is the first completed section of the future Viinikanlahti district and harbor area.
The Särkänsilta Bridge opens a new route to Lake Näsijärvi
The Särkänsilta Bridge opened to pedestrians during Midsummer week, connecting Mustanlahti Harbour and Särkänniemi. The sculptural bridge was designed to blend into the landscape; its forms draw inspiration from the hulls of the harbour’s steamboats, and the streamlined pillars of the intermediate supports resemble the keels of sailboats.
The bridge features wide walkways suitable not only for walking but also for relaxing, and lighting embedded in the railings creates light patterns after dark. Like the Näsin Puistosilta Bridge, the Särkänsilta Bridge thus offers city residents a new open public space where they can enjoy the lake views. Other details include viewing openings designed on a child’s scale, from which one can look out over the harbour and Lake Näsijärvi.
Extensive experience is evident in bridge construction
Construction engineer Raija Tevaniemi has been involved in the construction of both the Vesitehtaansilta Bridge and the Särkänsilta Bridge. Her 40-year career with the City of Tampere is coming to a close just as the new bridges are being opened to traffic.
-It’s wonderful to see how these bridges, which have been planned and built over such a long period, are finally completed and made available to city residents. Through these bridges, the city feels closer, and different areas are connected in a new way, Tevaniemi says.
On the Vesitehtaansilta Bridge and the Särkänsilta Bridge, her work is tangibly evident in the form of new connections that will provide excellent service to city residents well into the future.
