#HTE

Helsinki is Building Finland’s Longest Bridge System—and It’ll be Off-Limits to Cars

In a symbol of their commitment to environmentally-friendly means of transportation, the Helsinki City Council has just greenlit the construction of a massive bridge system that is off-limits to cars entirely. The Crown Bridges project, a trio of bridges including a 1.2-kilometer stretch that will be Finland’s longest span, will only accommodate streetcars, pedestrians and cyclists.

The €260 million (USD $290 million) project will link Helsinki’s city center with the suburbs across the water to the east. They estimate daily streetcar ridership across the bridges to be 37,000, with an additional 3,000 folks walking or pedaling across the spans.

Thus far Helsinki has done a good job of making a dent in car traffic:

Today public transportation represents 30 percent of all journeys made in Helsinki; driving represents 25 percent, walking 30 percent, and cycling 10–11 percent while growing.