Traffic circle at Hatanpään and Tampereen valtatie intersection to be removed already in 2026
Construction of the tramway on Hatanpään valtatie continues for the next couple of years. A weekday driving ban was implemented on the street in September 2025, and work phases have been reorganized to facilitate traffic flow. One major change is that the traffic circle at the intersection of Hatanpään and Tampereen valtatie can be transformed back to a signal-controlled intersection earlier than expected, already in summer 2026. The final lane arrangements for the area will be completed in 2027, and the entire tramway by 2028.
”Construction work on Hatanpään valtatie has progressed well. We are currently finalizing the first street and bridge phasee and will soon move to work on the eastern side of the street. In the junction of Hatanpään and Tampereen valtatie, we are already ahead of schedule. Initially, the traffic circle was expected to be in use until 2027, but it looks like we will have traffic lights in the intersection already next summer,” says Sari Valjus, Project Manager for Tampere Tramway’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance.
The city of Tampere and Tampere Tramway’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance are actively seeking solutions to smoothen traffic flow during construction.
Once the traffic circle is removed, not all lanes in the junction will be in use yet, and construction of the intersection area will continue in phases. The goal is to achieve the final lane arrangements by 2027 once street works on Hatanpään valtatie are completed. The tramway as a whole will be completed in 2028, when all technical systems and electric rail structures are installed.
Once completed, the tramway will run in the middle of Hatanpään valtatie, with one driving lane in both directions. Pedestrian and cycling paths will run on both sides of the road. The tramway will run mostly on grass tracks that enhance urban greenery.
The junction of Hatanpään and Tampereen valtatie will be signal-controlled once the tramway is completed in 2028. The intersection area will ensure safe, smooth mobility for all types of transport. (Image: Tampere Tramway’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance)
Illustration of the completed intersection area in 2028, towards Tampereen valtatie. (Image: Tampere Tramway’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance)
Illustration of the completed intersection area in 2028, from Hatanpää towards the city center. (Image: Tampere Tramway’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance)
Traffic on Hatanpään valtatie has moderately decreased – work continues to improve traffic flow
A driving ban for motor vehicles between Tampereen valtatie and Lahdenperänkatu was implemented on Hatanpään valtatie in September. The ban is in effect on weekdays from 6 AM to 6 PM. The ban does not apply to public transport or access to properties and services. The aim of the ban is to improve the mobility of those living and doing business in the area as well as smooth bus traffic.
The city of Tampere and the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance have monitored traffic volumes and the impacts of the driving ban in the area throughout the autumn. Traffic volumes on Hatanpään valtatie have moderately decreased since the ban began. On weekdays, traffic has decreased by an average of one thousand motor vehicles. However, about 25 percent of the traffic is still through-traffic.
”The proportion of through-traffic is still quite large. We hope that the driving ban will be adhered to for the sake of smoother mobility. The ban is also intended to facilitate the operations of emergency services and bus traffic. If there is no need to visit Hatanpään valtatie, an alternative route such as Lempääläntie is recommended. According to Nysse’s monitoring, moving to Lempääläntie during rush hours has shortened the travel time of line 30 by about 10 minutes,” states Ari Vandell, Planning Manager for the City of Tampere.
Bus traffic in the area remains a challenge, as travel times are still longer than usual during rush hours. Solutions are being sought in cooperation.
”We are actively seeking solutions together with the city of Tampere and Nysse to facilitate bus traffic. We are also discussing with community stakeholders to continuously improve the safety and functionality of traffic arrangements in the area. It is important to us that getting around in the area is possible even during construction. Outside peak times, using Hatanpään valtatie services has been smooth according to experiences,” says Juha Inkiläinen, Technical Branch Manager of Traffic Planning for Tampere Tramway’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance.