Tunnelling for Metro extension to begin in summer

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Blasting for the construction of tunnels for the planned west metro is to begin in the summer. Work is to start almost simultaneously at all Metro stations between Ruoholahti and Tapiola. The first task will be to build access tunnels.
      “First we make a tunnel so that we can make the actual Metro tunnel”, says Matti Kokkinen, CEO of the West Metro project.
     
Construction on an access tunnel has already begun at Ruoholahti, where the present Helsinki Metro has its westernmost station. Excavation for the main tunnel from Ruoholahti is to begin in May.
      The total cost of the access tunnels is in the neighbourhood of a few million euros. The work on the actual Metro tunnel is being divided into segments of EUR 10-15 million each.
     
The tunnelling work is expected to take about two years.
      “After that we will be able to fill in what we have dug out”, Kokkinen says, in reference to the further construction of the tunnels and the stations.
     
The decision to extend the Metro west of Helsinki into Espoo was formalised in February this year, when all appeals against the project were rejected.
      Under the original schedule, the West Metro should be ready in 2014, but the appeals process has delayed things somewhat. Kokkinen says that the builders are hoping to stick to the original timetable, but adds that the trains might not start running until the following year.
     
To mark the arrival of the Metro in Espoo, a scale model of the system was unveiled in Tapiola on Thursday.
      “Perhaps the arrival of the Metro came at the right time anyway. Now it is supported by global problems stemming from climate change”, said Espoo Mayor


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Cost estimates for Espoo Metro soaring (5.9.2007)
  Espoo already envisions metro link through Suurpelto to Suvela (15.1.2009)
  Espoo City Council approves Metro extension (20.5.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat