Construction of the western part of the Tampere tramway continues at all construction sectors during the winter – work on the Näsinsaari bridges is scheduled to start in the spring
Construction work of the western part of the Tampere tramway, between Pyynikintori, Santalahti and Lentävänniemi, continues throughout winter in all of the construction sectors: Santalahti, Hiedanranta and Lentävänniemi.
- “The project is on schedule as more than half of the work has already been completed and half of the time allotted for the project has passed. Approximately half of all tracks have also been installed,” says Sari Valjus, Project Manager for the Tramway Alliance.
In addition to the tramway, a total of seven new bridges will be built on the section between Pyynikintori and Lentävänniemi. Two of the new bridges, one on Sepänkatu and Santalahden rantasilta bridge have already been completed. The Rosenlew underpass and Ollinoja bridge in Hiedanranta are currently under construction. Construction of the bridges that lead to Näsinsaari is scheduled to start in the coming spring.
The new Näsinsaari bridges are intended for all modes of transport
The creation of Näsinsaari enables the construction of the tramway to Lentävänniemi via Hiedanranta. Tramway work in Näsinsaari will begin with bridge construction in Pölkkylänniemi on the eastern side of the island. This work is scheduled to start in the spring.
- “The schedule depends on how the slump of the Näsisaari rock fill progresses. We aim to start work on the bridge as soon as possible, once the rock fill has pushed down the soft bottom layers of the lake as planned. Pölkkylänsilta, which will lead into Näsisaari from the east, will be the first to be constructed,” says Tramway Alliance Site Foreman, Perttu Vähä-Pietilä.
The Näsinsaari fill, carried out by the City of Tampere, started in February last year and was completed in November, approximately one month ahead of schedule. The constructed loading berms are currently working hard, pre-stressing the soil below the area where the tramway will pass.
- “The slump retention of the fill is approximately one year, but bridge construction can start sooner than that as the structures will be built on pillars,” says Vähä-Pietilä.
Two bridges for the tramway and one for car traffic will be built leading into Näsisaari. All of the bridges will have lanes for cyclists and pedestrians.
Pölkkylänsilta, which will lead to Näsisaari from Pölkkylänniemi in the east, will be used by trams, cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge will be roughly 70 metres long and 16 metres wide.
Hiedansillat are two bridges that will lead to Hiedanranta on the western side of Näsisaari. Tram traffic will use the northern bridge and the southern bridge will be for car traffic. Both of the bridges will also have cycling and pedestrian lanes. Both bridges will be 13 metres wide and the length of the northern one will be 105 metres and 111 metres for the southern one.
- “Construction of the Hiedansillat bridges is also scheduled to start this year, but the schedule depends on how the rock fill slump progresses. The aim is to complete the bridges during 2024,” says Perttu Vähä-Pietilä.
Building the actual tramway on the island will only start once bridge construction has been completed.
Rosenlew and Ollinoja bridges to be poured in the spring
Work on the deck scaffolding and moulds of the Rosenlew underpass, one of the largest bridges within the Tampere tramway at over 230 metres long, has progressed over the winter. Currently, the reinforcements and post tension pipes of the deck are being installed.
Concrete of the bridge deck will be poured in the spring, with the current schedule being in March.
- “Once the deck is completed, the concrete structure is post-tensioned, pushing it together. This is done by using thick steel wires that are tensioned with jacks. Before the concrete is poured, protective pipes will be installed within the deck mould and flexible steel wires slid into the pipes in a curved shape. Once the concrete has hardened, the wires will be tightened by using a hydraulic jack. Then, the structure can be stressed as planned,” says Perttu Vähä-Pietilä.
Currently, a bridge trough comprised of two supporting walls is being constructed at the Rosenlew bridge construction site, with scaffolding, moulding and reinforcement also underway. The trough-like wall enables the tramway to get onto the bridge on the narrow strip between Rantatie and Paasikiventie.
Once the supportive trough and the Rosenlew bridge construction have been completed, rails and pylons will be installed on top to create the track surface. On the Rosenlew bridge, the tramway will be built as a ballast track.
In the Santalahti area, electric work such as overhead line installation between Sepänkatu and Rantatie will be carried out during the winter and spring.
Ollinoja bridge to introduce new pedestrian and bike lanes to Sellupuisto in Hiedanranta – in addition to the tramway
The Ollinoja bridge, currently being built in Sellupuisto park in Hiedanranta, will connect the east and west sides of the park, so that, in addition to the tramway, a separate pedestrian and cycling route runs across the bridge. Under the bridge, there will be a gravel-covered park walkway for pedestrians and cyclists. The Ollinoja bridge will be over 30 metres long and up to nine metres wide. The Tramway Alliance will also construct a riverbed for Ollinoja, a small animal trail and a nature trail under the bridge.
- “Currently, scaffolding for the bridge is being constructed and, in the spring, the bridge deck will be reinforced and concrete poured in. At the moment it looks like the pouring will be done in late March,” says Perttu Vähä-Pietilä.
Over the winter, earthworks such as the filling of pedestrian and bike lanes, the preparation of stop areas and track foundations as well as municipal engineering work including cabling routes and stormwater pipelines have continued in Hiedanranta. In addition, the construction of an electricity supply station is underway in Sellupuisto. Construction of the other Hiedanranta electricity supply station will commence in March.
Municipal engineering work in Lentävänniemi in the winter
In Lentävänniemi, construction will progress during the winter with municipal engineering work related to the construction tramway. Currently, the construction of cable routes and wells, new stormwater pipelines and the reform of the lighting is underway on Federleynkatu. Similarly, on Lielahdenkatu the current phase entails municipal engineering work and preparing the growing medium for new trees along the road. On Kehyskatu, work on the facade of the electricity supply station was completed and the next step is electrical and equipment installation. During spring, construction of the track foundation will continue and surface construction will start in April–May with the installation of rails and slab tracks on Lielahdenkatu and Halkoniemenkatu. Construction of the terminus of the western part of the tramway in Pyhällönpuisto will also begin in the spring.