The renovation of Hiekkarannantie in Hietaniemi in Etu-Töölö was completed on schedule, and the street will opened to vehicle traffic on Wednesday morning 4 October. As the street is reopened, bus route 24 will return to its regular route. The street was opened to pedestrians and cyclists at the end of September.
The Hiekkarannantie street renovation started in January, which is when vehicle traffic was cut off between Eteläinen Hesperiankatu and Hietaniemenkatu and rerouted to a detour via Hietakannaksentie.
The construction enables the development of the Taivallahti shore area in accordance with the local detailed plan. The water supply and sewerage and other infrastructure work completed during the contract also enable the construction of a spa hotel planned for the area.
New accessible pavement
The renovation of the street included several improvements to improve pedestrian safety in the Taivallahti area. A new accessible pavement was built along the length of Hiekkarannantie. The turnout area at the end of Hietaniemenkatu was removed and landscaped as part of the park areas. The renewals will also improve the flow of vehicle traffic on the street as there is more space to pass others.
Due to the street renovation, a few trees were removed from the edges, and 17 new pines were planted to make sure the area remains dominated by pine even in the future. During the renovation, soil that was contaminated by earlier use was also renewed.
The street construction is based on the street plan approved by the Urban Environment Committee in 2021.
A new park and spa hotel to be built in Taivallahti
The renovation of Hiekkarannantie is part of the more extensive development of Taivallahti. In the coming years, a public park will be built in the area along with a spa hotel built as a private project.
The City of Helsinki is building a park called Sigurd Frosterus park in Taivalsaari, which circles the Taivalsaari shore towards Hietaranta beach. The park will contain a public playground, barbecue spot, observation platform, exercise station and beach, which are open to all residents.
According to the current local detailed plan, it is possible to build a three-storey spa hotel in connection with the park. After the local detailed plan was drafted, an architecture competition was organised. The planning is advanced in accordance with the winning proposal. The plan deviates somewhat from the local detailed plan, and it also considers Helsinki’s new instructions for safe building height in shore areas. The derogation decision needed to grant the building permit will be sent for preparation in the near future. An earlier derogation decision contained a factual error which will be corrected in the new decision.
The construction of the park can begin once the park and street plans have gained legal force. The construction is planned to begin in 2024, and the Taivallahti area will continue to be built until 2028.