The renovation of Mäkelänkatu will begin in October–November. The major project will involve overhauling underground municipal infrastructure, such as water and sewer pipelines, district heat pipes and telecommunications cables.
Street surface structures and technical systems, such as traffic lights, lighting and tramway technology, will also be overhauled. Tram tracks will also be overhauled in places.
Result: a safer Mäkelänkatu
The overhaul will improve the traffic arrangements of Mäkelänkatu in the section on the southern side of Kumpulantie. Walking and cycling will become safer than before as cyclists will be separated from other traffic onto new one-way cycling routes and all crossings along Mäkelänkatu will receive traffic lights.
The number of motor vehicle lanes will be reduced from three to two. One of the lanes will be designated for bus traffic. Vehicle traffic along Mäkelänkatu will be made smoother by overhauling the intersection arrangements.
Some changes will be made to public transport. The Rautalammintie tram stops will be removed, making the tram traffic of Mäkelänkatu more efficient. Stops will also be overhauled to meet the needs of the upcoming light rail. The use of bus stops will be clarified by combining some stops.
Sections of the lime tree avenue that are in poor condition will also be overhauled in the renovation project. The condition of the trees and their substrate has been established with thorough examinations.
Roughly 100 trees will be removed and replaced with new saplings along the section to be renovated. The living conditions of the trees will be improved by changing the substrate in the sections to be overhauled. The objective is to preserve the integrity and vitality of the scenically valuable tree avenue.
The street work will have significant impacts on traffic
Mäkelänkatu is one of Helsinki’s main roadways. The area to be renovated is located in the Vallila district between Hämeentie and Kumpulantie. Work will also be carried out on Lautatarhankatu, Hämeentie, Vääksyntie, Elimäenkatu and Sturenkatu.
The work will inevitably generate noise and affect traffic in the area. The expected impacts include traffic congestion and changes to public transport. Mäkelänkatu will remain open for traffic throughout the project.
The City of Helsinki will provide information about the start and progress of the work when the project launch draws nearer.
Timing of major transport projects planned as a whole
Street construction in the inner city of Helsinki continues to be busy, as there is a large amount of piping and infrastructure underneath the streets that is due for renovation. These renovations will be accompanied by improvements to the street environment.
The renovation of Mäkelänkatu is based on street plans completed in 2019. As it is a busy street, the City has timed the work to take into account other major transport projects in Helsinki.
Near Mäkelänkatu, Aleksis Kiven katu is currently undergoing renovation, which will be completed in late 2026. As the works on Mäkelänkatu and Aleksis Kiven katu will be carried out simultaneously for about a year, traffic is expected to increase on Teollisuuskatu. According to traffic analyses, traffic will flow smoothly despite the simultaneous works.
Less than a kilometre from the Mäkelänkatu site is the Junatie metro bridge, which is scheduled for renovation between 2026 and 2027. This project will primarily affect the flow of metro traffic, and Mäkelänkatu is not a route for traffic substituting the metro.
