Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass will open to motor vehicles on Tuesday 5 August
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency informs that Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass, which was closed at the beginning of June, will be opened to motor vehicle traffic earlier than announced, already on Tuesday 5 August 2025. Pedestrians and cyclists are still prohibited from using the underpass. The changes are related to developing the Tampere railway station area.
The underpass at Itsenäisyydenkatu is a challenging construction site that will pace the whole project. Demolition work on the first bridge, linked to the developing the Tampere railway station area and the construction of the new passenger terminal, was carried out during the traffic disruption at the underpass. Work will continue during the autumn and winter with the construction of the new bridge.
Work is currently underway in the passenger yard and the passenger tunnel of the railway station for the new intermediate platform and the lifts and escalators leading to it. The works will cause noise in the central tunnel and the surrounding area until the end of September.
Buses return to the underpass
According to Nysse, the bus routes that were on emergency routes will also be able to return to their normal routes as soon as the underpass opens on 5 August. Buses 6, 29, 42 and 95 will return to Rautatienkatu and buses 90 and 93 to Hämeenkatu. The underpass was originally announced to open on Monday 11 August.
Nysse will move to the winter timetable on Monday 4 August, the last day that the lines will be on their alternative routes. Buses 6, 42, 90, 93 and 95 will run via Tampere House, University and Sori Square. Line 29 will run via Tammela, Osmonmäki and Jussinkylä. The exceptional routes will be resumed on 5 August at 5 am.
New traffic arrangements in the second phase of the project
For pedestrians and cyclists, the underpass at Itsenäisyydenkatu will remain closed for safety reasons throughout the project. Alternatives will be Vellamonkatu, Ronga’s underpass and the travel centre tunnel. The tram will run normally despite the construction work.
As the construction work progresses, the underpass will also be completely closed to motor vehicles from next summer. The new Erkkilä’s bridge will open to traffic in August 2026, making east-west travel easier.
Jetro Matilainen
Project Manager, Developing the Tampere railway station area, The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency
0295343573