Major construction sites in the city centre are progressing on schedule

Bridges and roads will be completed during 2026

Several major street and bridge projects in Tampere have been completed or are due to be completed during 2026. The completed projects have already created new connections to different parts of the city, and the renovation of Puutarhakatu, amongst other things, will be completed by the end of the year.

Paasikivenkatu, in terms of traffic arrangements, has been completed. A new cycle route is now separated from the pedestrian walkway on the north side of the street, and one lane in each direction has been reserved for motor vehicles. The project is a part of developing the Särkänniemi area and now paves the way for the construction of a new residential block at Onkiniemenkulma. Landscaping work will continue until the end of the year, but this will not affect traffic in the area.

The renovation of Puutarhakatu will be completed by the end of October 2026. The work, which began in 2025, was initiated because the water and sewer pipes beneath the street had reached the end of their service life and needed replacing. In conjunction with the pipe replacement, Puutarhakatu has undergone extensive renovation. A new two-way bikeway has been built on the street, stormwater management has been improved, a district cooling pipeline has been installed, and the area has been made more pleasant. Finishing works on the bikeway are currently underway. Before completion, the final sections of the bikeway will be resurfaced, and landscaping and planting work, finishing touches to the paving and the installation of street furniture will be carried out. In addition, finishing work on the project will be carried out on Aleksis Kiven katu during October.

In June 2026, three new or renovated bridges were opened in Tampere, which have made it easier to get around with all vehicles. The Erkkilän silta Bridge was completed as part of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s Developing the Tampere railway yard area project more than two months ahead of schedule. The Vesitehtaansilta Bridge connects the lakeside routes and makes it easier to move around Viinikanlahti ja Hatanpää areas during other construction works. In addition Särkänsilta Bridge has opened a new route between Mustalahti and Särkänniemi area.

Major projects are progressing on schedule

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s Tampere Developing the railway station area -project closed the Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass to all modes of transportation except trams on 1 June 2026. The closure will remain in place until the project is completed, i.e. until 2031. At the Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass, the railway bridges running over it are being replaced at a rate of one per year. The deck of the first rail bridge was cast in September, and preparations are now underway to lower the bridge into its final position. In addition to the construction of bridges, a new passenger terminal, which will also include a tram stop, is being built at the underpass. The current traffic arrangements will remain unchanged until the project is completed.

At the start of October, 63 per cent of the construction work for the first phase of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram line had been completed, and 5.8 kilometres of the double track had been laid out of a total of 7.1 kilometres. The traffic lights installed in September at the intersection of Hatanpää highway and Tampere highway have improved traffic flow in the area. Jokikatu will open to traffic in both directions later this year, once the Viinikanlahti Bridge is completed. Towards the end of the year, traffic on Hatanpää highway will also largely move onto its permanent routes. Tram lines will be installed across the Tampere highway intersection during November. During the autumn, trees will be planted and other landscaping work carried out in the Hatanpää area.

Development continues underground and in the national landscape

A major development project also began on Viinikankatu in the spring, when work on the Yliopistontunneli tunnel commenced. The tunnel will open up a new underground road from the south and enable future development projects in the city centre. Traffic along Viinikankatu will be maintained for motor vehicles throughout the project. Pedestrians and cyclists will also be able to return to Viinikankatu in early 2027, once routes bypassing the construction site have been completed for all modes of transport.

A new temporary walking and cycling bridge was also opened in the Tammerkoski Rapids National Landscape in July 2026. The bridge was built to maintain connections whilst Valssipadonraitti is being renovated, and it links Koskipuisto and Vanhankirjastonpuisto. As part of the Valssipadonraitti construction, the footpaths and cycle paths, as well as the bridges, are being widened and upgraded to meet the requirements of the regional main cycle route. The temporary bridge has made it easier to get through the city centre and provides a new route across the Tammerkoski Rapids.

No transport arrangements with such a wide-ranging impact are expected by 2027, although development of the city centre will continue. Plans for next year include, amongst other things, the replacement of the Kalevan risteyssilta Bridge and improvements to Hämeenpuisto Park and Pikku Kakkonen playground, which will enhance the city centre's appeal. The timetables for these projects will be finalised once the budget and annual plan have been approved.