Suomen Kaasuenergia Oy and Helen Oy have launched a joint construction project in Ruskeasuo, Helsinki.
Over the winter, the companies will build new district cooling and natural gas networks at the northern end of Mannerheimintie, along the route from Mannerheimintie 166 via Ruskontie to Nauvontie.
The joint project, and particularly the shared trench, will reduce disruption to residents.
Gas and district cooling in the same trench
Suomen Kaasuenergia is building almost 300 metres of new distribution network on Mannerheimintie. The new gas pipeline will be installed in Helen’s district cooling trench.
“When we found out that Helen’s heating services were building district cooling infrastructure, we decided to install our gas pipeline in the same trench,” Suomen Kaasuenergia Network Supervisor Vesa-Matti Luoma explains.
“This puts into practice the cooperation on construction sites emphasised by city leaders, including Mayor Vapaavuori, and makes life easier for residents and traffic flow smoother. Each operator no longer needs to dig its own trench in the same place one after another.”
Cooperation supports Helsinki’s streetworks improvement programme
The City of Helsinki grants around 3,000 excavation permits annually, and there are approximately 6,500 temporary traffic arrangements each year. At worst, the same stretch of street is opened several times in succession because operators do not coordinate their work.
Through its streetworks improvement programme, Helsinki has begun paying closer attention to making these projects run more smoothly.
Construction to finish in late March
Suomen Kaasuenergia and Helen’s joint project will be carried out in two phases. The first is expected to finish in mid-February and the second in late March. The first section runs between Mannerheimintie 166 and Koroistentie, occupying the right-hand lane northbound on Mannerheimintie. The second runs from Koroistentie via Ruskontie to Nauvontie.
The works will slow traffic throughout construction. Suomen Kaasuenergia and Helen apologise for the inconvenience.