Vantaa Light Rail construction work soon underway for a year – what we have achieved

The Vantaa Light Rail alliances started work in October 2024. The actual construction work began with preparatory works at the Tikkurila railway yard in May 2025. At the beginning of December 2025, the project moved into the construction phase, and the worksites expanded rapidly. In honour of the second anniversary of the alliance agreements, we look back at what we have achieved over the past two years.

First tram rails installed in Aviapolis

The Aviapolis worksite installed the first tram rails in Vantaa’s history on 11 May 2026. The rails were installed in the Muura area near the southern Aviapolis railway station. Otherwise, the worksite has progressed rapidly, and the construction work is now beginning to approach Jumbo. Construction in the Jumbo area will begin in January 2027.

First bridge deck cast at Kylmäoja in Viertola 

The casting of the bridge deck crossing Kylmäoja began at 6:00 on 26 May and lasted approximately 24 hours. The Tikkurilantie bridge at Kylmäoja is more significant than its size might suggest, as Kylmäoja is a valuable clear-water stream to which brown trout also migrate to spawn. The worksite has therefore worked closely with environmental experts to ensure that the stream water remains clean during construction. 

Next, the Tikkurilantie worksite will move west and begin constructing a new light rail bridge over Tuusulanväylä next to the existing bridge.

Open excavation for the light rail tunnel

Preparatory work for Vantaa Light Rail began on 5 May 2025, when the P2 park-and-ride facility next to Tikkurila station was taken out of use. Work at the Tikkurila railway yard began on 23 June 2025, when preparations for the construction of the light rail tunnel commenced. 

The track closures on the main railway line were completed on schedule in December 2025 and without disruption to the surrounding area. Since then, the tunnel construction team has been working on the open excavation, which is already visible along almost its entire length.

Before the excavation work began, a massive amount of different underground municipal infrastructure was relocated at the tunnel worksite. This included the replacement of water supply and sewer pipes, electricity cables and various telecommunications cables beneath the excavation.

At present, excavation of the bottom of the light rail tunnel has already progressed to almost its final depth beneath the main railway line. Excavation work elsewhere in the tunnel will continue until next spring. Soon, the excavation will begin to fill up, as the concrete tunnel will be built inside the open excavation.

Kyytitie worksite innovates a solution that spared the park from construction 

The Kyytitie worksite is significantly affected by gas pipelines that run alongside Kyytitie for almost the entire length of the worksite. In autumn 2026, the worksite team developed a solution that allows some of the gas pipelines in the Heidehofinpuisto area to be constructed using trenchless methods. This means that part of the park can remain unchanged without a massive construction site.

On Kyytitie, the construction team installed the first tram rails in July. The Kyytitie construction team has handled its section admirably, which has made it possible to carry out work scheduled for 2027 earlier than planned, and the work has even progressed ahead of schedule.

First traffic lanes completed on Hakunilantie

Hakunilantie cannot be completely closed to traffic, which is why the traffic arrangements in the area have to be changed regularly. In addition, Hakunilantie runs through rocky terrain, which is why the light rail construction team has excavated rock to make space for the tramway at various points along the long street.

However, the first traffic lanes on Hakunilantie have now been completed, and in September, vehicle traffic was partially moved onto the final traffic lanes.

Next, preparations are underway on Hakunilantie for a demanding bridge operation, during which the deteriorated bridge crossing Ring III will be demolished and replaced with a new bridge capable of carrying the light rail. For this reason, vehicle traffic will use a detour for approximately one year.

In Vaarala, the subproject is carrying out construction work in Fazerila, in a demanding groundwater area. At present, the new street, Rivieranraitio, is already taking shape in the landscape.

New bridge being built over Porvoonväylä on Länsimäentie 

Construction of the new bridge crossing Porvoonväylä is progressing well, and the location of the new bridge is beginning to take shape, at least for those travelling along Porvoonväylä. The work has now reached a stage where it is beginning to look like a bridge rather than just a construction site.

There are nine day-care centres and two large schools within the Länsimäentie project area, and the construction team has received a great deal of praise for its active cooperation with the day-care centres. Special mention must of course be given to the day-care centres’ excursion to the worksite to help build the light rail on 29 April. Perhaps some of the builders of the future were among those taking part in the excursion.

North of Porvoonväylä, the first tram rails are already in place. Next to them is the light rail depot worksite, where groundwork is in full swing.

Construction of feeder stations begins 

The eighth subproject of Vantaa Light Rail covers the entire light rail route from Aviapolis to Mellunmäki. This project is constructing and designing the light rail electrical systems for the entire route. One milestone was reached on 1 October 2026, when, on a foggy morning, the first multi-purpose pole was erected alongside Kyytitie. Lighting and cantilever arms for the overhead contact wires will be installed on the pole. Nearly 300 poles will be erected between Mellunmäki and Kuninkaala.

An important part of the system consists of the feeder stations, informally known among colleagues as “electrical huts”. Six feeder stations are already under construction, including on Kyytitie, Länsimäentie and Osuustie.