Work to widen the Valssipadonraitti and Frenckell bridges will begin in June 2026.
In the first phase, the Frenckell pihasilta bridge, the Patosilta bridge, and the passageway through the Frenckell building will be widened.
Valssipadonraitti
The main east-west cycling route, Valssipadonraitti, which turns off Rongankatu, crosses the Tammerkoski rapids and continues through the Frenckell building and across Frenckellinpuisto Park to Puutarhakatu. As traffic volumes have increased, the current route has become too narrow, and it is being upgraded to meet the standards required of a regional cycling route.
As part of the street renovation, the walking and cycling paths and bridges will be widened and improved. Work will begin in June 2026 and continue until 2028. The goal is to create more space for both cycling and walking, as well as for Tampere residents and tourists who come to admire the national landscape from the bridge.
After the renovation, the path will be wider than it is now and will consist of separate cycle path and pavement. The total length of the route is approximately 290 metres, of which about 125 metres are on the bridge sections. The route runs through the Tammerkoski Rapids industrial landscape, which is classified as a national landscape.
Traffic arrangements
During the renovation, the Valssipadonraitti route will be completely closed to traffic, and an alternative crossing over Tammerkoski will be arranged using a temporary bridge or by detouring via other bridges across the rapids.
The demolition of the old bridges and construction of the temporary bridge will begin around the same time in June 2026, and for a few weeks it will be necessary to detour via Hämeensilta or Satakunnansilta until the alternative crossing over the rapids is completed. The temporary bridge is intended for pedestrians and cyclists and will remain in place for several years during the entire renovation of the Valssipadonraitti route.
Schedule for the planning and construction of the Valssipadonraitti
Space for pedestrians and cyclists
As part of the street renovation, the route will be widened by two meters along the entire stretch between Rongankatu and Puutarhakatu. This will allow for separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. The entrance to the Frenckell building can be widened to six meters within the limits permitted by the building’s preservation status.
The cycle path will be paved with red asphalt, and the pavement with gray cobblestones. In the Frenckellinpuisto Park area, the pavements, including the new plaza area, will be paved with gray cobblestones. The cycle path there will be paved with red-tinted asphalt. At the western end of the route, the cycle path and pavement connect to the lanes on Puutarhakatu.
Valssipadonraitti_Frenckellinaukoltaitaan_Ramboll2024.jpg
Valssipadonraitti - havainnekuva
Pihasilta Bridge and passage through Frenckell from west
Pihasilta Frenckellin aukolta länteen
Frenckellin aukolle lännestä
Views of Valssipadonraitti after the renovation (Photos: Ramboll)
A viewing platform and accessible connections on the Patosilta Bridge
The truss bridge crossing the Valssipato Dam will also be widened toward the north, and a viewing platform will be built on the bridge. The platform will offer views of the Satakunnansilta Bridge and the Tampella and Finlayson areas across the entire width of the bridge. At the western end of the Patosilta Bridge, next to the dam wall, an accessible ramp will be built under the arch of the Satakunnansilta Bridge to the Finlayson entrance. The ramp will be accessible, for example, by wheelchair. At the eastern end of Valssipadonraitti, the route alignment will be straightened at the Rongankatu intersection, and a city bike station and e-scooter parking area will be built near the intersection.
In addition, lighting along the entire route will be improved, and the lighting on the bridges as well as the types of railings will retain an appearance similar to the current solutions.
Project actors
The City of Tampere is the main developer of the Puutarhakatu project. YIT Infra Oy is the main contractor of the project
The short address for this page is tampere.fi/en/valssipadonraitti
Updated 20.5.2026