How is a tramway built? Get to know the principles
The route of the Tampere Tramway will expand from Sori Square to Partola in Pirkkala and from the Kauppi Campus to Ruotula during the years 2024–2028.
Building a tramway is a multi-stage process. The future tramway requires first relocating existing water pipes, cables, and sewage lines to another location as well as renewing municipal technology that has reached the end of its lifespan.
We at the Tampere Tramway’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance coordinate our construction work with several other projects, that are cost-effective and sensible to carry out alongside the construction of the tramway.
For this reason, the tramway cannot be built ready section by section. Instead, the construction proceeds along the streets lengthwise.
Typically, the tramway is built in three stages:
- First, we build on one side of the street. Traffic is directed to the opposite side of the street.
- Next, we move to building on the other side of the street. Traffic moves to the already completed street section.
- Finally, we focus on finishing the construction in the middle area of the street on the track section. At this time, vehicle traffic, pedestrians, and bicycle traffic can be moved to their final lanes.
What do we build?
- 13.6 km double tracks
- 7.8 km fixed tracks, including 0.9 km of grass tracks and 1.3 km of heat tracks
- 15 pairs of stops
- 9 electricity supply stations
- 11 new bridges
- 27 support walls
- Electric rail structures
- Technical systems such as switches and traffic lights
- New sidewalks and bicycle routes
- Green areas and tree plantings
- New street lighting
- Renewal of electricity, water, and cable routes along the entire track
- Expansion of the Tampere Tram depot’s storage hall from six to nine tracks
- Construction of new office and social facilities and parking spaces at the depot
What are our working hours?
We work one shift on weekdays, and our working hours are defined in the noise permits granted by environmental authorities. Working in one shift is the most common practice in noise-causing infrastructure projects in downtown areas of larger cities. Sometimes we work at night if certain phases cannot be carried out during the day due to traffic or safety reasons.
The principle behind work scheduling is to ensure that residents and city dwellers can safely and smoothly move from one place to another on all modes of transportation throughout the construction period.
Alternating arrangements require thorough planning
We conduct traffic planning throughout the construction period in collaboration with the city’s experts. Our temporary traffic arrangements are based on plans that coordinate the needs of both the construction site and traffic. We strive for clear, easily adoptable, and long-term traffic arrangements.
The principle in tramway construction is that traffic connections on main streets are not completely cut off. We ensure access to every property for residents, employees, customers, and maintenance and rescue traffic during construction.
The greater the traffic volume in the area, the greater the requirements for traffic smoothness. This often necessitates more phasing of work areas and more frequent changes in traffic arrangements. One such area is the intersection of Hatanpää and Tampere highways, where frequently changing work stages affect the roundabout’s traffic arrangements. Ensuring the timely completion of this busy intersection is one of our project’s main goals.
We consider all user groups when planning traffic arrangements
In designing temporary traffic arrangements during construction, we consider all those moving in the area with different modes of transportation. We also consider the accessibility of the arrangements. Smooth and safe detours are planned for all users to bypass the construction site.
For example, the regional main route for cycling is relocated to pass through Arboretum via Vihilahdenkuja park route and along Pyhäjärvi lakeside route in Härmälä to bypass the construction site. We have added signs to the terrain and continuously make improvements to the routes based on feedback received and as work stages permit us.
It is now possible to view current work areas and routes with the help of our new map service. Maps are updated as work progresses.