Heavy road construction continues in area near Eurovision Song Contest
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When the Eurovision Song Contest begins in Helsinki on May the 10th, heavy construction will be continuing in the area near the venue, the Helsinki Arena.
Extensive improvements on the major east-west thoroughfare Hakamäentie - a chronic traffic bottleneck - is one of two major construction sites in Helsinki.
Work to add lanes to Hakamäentie and to convert light-operated intersections into a motorway-style interchange began last summer, and the project is not expected to be completed until 2009.
The project is such a big one that it cannot be stopped, even for the Eurovision event. However, efforts are being made to improve the aesthetic image of the area.
At the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, Heikki Seppälä, who is responsible for arrangements linked with the Eurovision Song Contest, says that barriers are to be put up to hide the ugly building site. Security barriers would be set up anyway, as they are required by the rules of the contest.
"The rules state that security must be up to airport standards", Seppälä says.
The security barriers will be adorned with textiles with patterns linked with the theme of the contest.
Pekka Mukkala of the Helsinki City Public Works Department says that the department had proposed to the construction company YIT that the pits in the construction areas could be covered with large sheets of cloth. However, the city would not have had funding earmarked for the purpose.
And even if the money had been there, the sheets would have been vulnerable to gusts of wind.
At the very least, the Hakamäentie construction site is to be kept quiet. A ban on blasting will take effect at the beginning of May, for the sake of the performances, rehearsals, and the peace of mind of the performers.
"Some of the blasting is taking place above the rehearsal facilities of the Arena, where the dressing rooms of the performers are located", Seppälä explains.
The biggest practical concern involves traffic arrangements. The organisers of the event had to agree with YIT on measures to make sure that the large vehicles carrying technical equipment for the media event will have easy access to the arena in spite of the construction work.
Roads and pedestrian walkways will also be tidied up for the event.
Building sites in the centre of Helsinki will also undergo an aesthetic facelift in May. From the beginning of the month through mid-May, there will be a ban on new excavation work.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 16.4.2007 - TODAY |
 Heavy road construction continues in area near Eurovision Song Contest |
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