The Crown Bridges ( fi, Kruunusillat) is the name given to three bridges under construction in the
Finnish city of
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
, creating a new tram link and cycle path to the island of
Laajasalo.
Background
The city council of Helsinki decided on 31 August 2016 to build a tramway to the island of
Laajasalo,
located to the east of Helsinki city centre. The route will include three new bridges, the longest of which will be the longest in Finland at , and its pylons one of the tallest structures in Helsinki. The bridges will have bicycle and pedestrian lanes in addition to the tramway, but no lanes for private cars. The total length of new double track, including tramways on Laajasalo itself, is about .
There are several new areas of housing under construction on the island as of 2016. The site of a former oil shipping terminal at Kruunuvuorenranta is expected to house 12,500 new residents when construction is completed by 2025, and densification of other areas on Laajasalo is expected to add another 10,000.
The tramway connection over a series of bridges was originally chosen as the basis for development by Helsinki city council on 12 November 2008.
[ Helsingin kaupunki: Kaupunkisuunnitteluvirasto][ Joukkoliikennelautakunta][ Helsingin kaupunginvaltuusto] The discarded alternatives were an extension of the
Helsinki Metro
The Helsinki Metro ( fi, Helsingin metro, sv, Helsingfors metro) is a rapid transit system serving Greater Helsinki, Finland. It is the world's northernmost metro system. It was opened to the general public on 2 August 1982 after 27 years of pl ...
in a tunnel or over a bridge.
Finnish Tramway Society
Finnish may refer to:
* Something or someone from, or related to Finland
* Culture of Finland
* Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland
* Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people
* Finnish cuisine
See al ...
[ Antero Alku] The completed tramway plan and its funding were finally approved by the council only in August 2016, almost eight years later.

The island will be linked to the Helsinki city centre by a tram connection built on bridges from
Merihaka via
Sompasaari and
Korkeasaari
Korkeasaari ( sv, Högholmen) is an island in Helsinki. The literal meaning of Korkeasaari is "Tall Island/Islet". It is part of the Mustikkamaa–Korkeasaari district. Korkeasaari Zoo is located on the island and named after it.
The island of ...
across the
Kruunuvuorenselkä bay and into
Kruunuvuorenranta. Instead of three lines in earlier versions,
the approved plan includes only two lines:
*
Central Railway Station –
Hakaniemi
Hakaniemi (; sv, Hagnäs) is an unofficial district of Helsinki, the Finnish capital. It covers most of the neighbourhood of Siltasaari in the district of Kallio. Hakaniemi is located at the sea shore and is separated from the city centre by the ...
– Kruunuvuorenranta –
Yliskylä
Yliskylä (Finnish), Uppby (Swedish) is a southeastern neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with ...
(45-meter bidirectional tram units), and
*
Kolmikulma
Kolmikulma ( sv, Trekanten; literally meaning "Triangle"), also known as the Diana Park, is a small, rectangular triangular-shaped park located in the Kaartinkaupunki district in the city center of Helsinki, Finland. It is limited by the Yrjön ...
– Central Railway Station – Hakaniemi – Kruunuvuorenranta – Haakoninlahti (existing-type rolling stock, 30-meter unidirectional units)
However, in 2021 the approved plan was split into two different stages: the tram connection will not reach the Central Station at first but
Hakaniemi market square
The Hakaniemi market square ( Finnish: ''Hakaniementori'', Swedish: ''Hagnäs torg'') is a market square located in Hakaniemi, Helsinki, Finland, opened in 1897. Throughout its history, there have been numerous Vappu marches and demonstrations ...
instead.
The temporary terminus serves as a hub for many public transport connections, including trams, buses and
Hakaniemi metro station
Hakaniemi metro station (, ) is a station on the Helsinki Metro. It serves the central Helsinki districts of Hakaniemi and Kallio. Both lines M1 and M2 serve Hakaniemi. There are 28 bicycle parking spaces at the station.
Opened on 1 June 1982, Ha ...
. The stated aim is to have the tramway operational between Yliskylä and Hakaniemi in 2027. Construction of the second phase of the project will start in 2026
and is estimated to be completed in 2028.
In the plan dated in May 2016, the bridge and tramway structures are projected to cost 259 million euros, although in 2021 the maximum price was increased to 326 million euros.
Additionally, the required investments in a depot and rolling stock are projected at 20–25 and 75–80 million euros, respectively.
The total length of new double track would be about .
In 2021 the Helsinki City Transport (HKL) ordered 23
ForCity Smart Artic X54 trams to operate on the Crown Bridges. The very same model, also known as Artic XL, is to operate on
Jokeri light rail as well.
Construction

Construction of the bridges started in October 2021. The first tracks were laid on Laajasalo island on 31 May 2022.
Technical data
Further plans
In 2008, the city council approved a motion that in the further planning of the Laajasalo area tram, expanding the tram network to the
Herttoniemi metro station
Herttoniemi metro station (, ) is a ground-level station on the Helsinki Metro. It serves the district of Herttoniemi in East Helsinki. There are 193 bicycle and 148 car parking spaces at the station. Both lines M1 and M2 serve Herttoniemi.
As th ...
should be investigated.
Additionally, in case that the military base in
Santahamina
Santahamina ( sv, Sandhamn) is an island and neighbourhood of Eastern Helsinki, Finland. At present it is a military base housing the Guard Jaeger Regiment, making access restricted. The Finnish National Defence University (NDU) is also locate ...
will be freed for residential construction in the future, provisions will be made for converting the tram lines into a light rail system that would extend into Santahamina in the south and travel in a tunnel from Korkeasaari to
Katajanokka
Katajanokka ( sv, Skatudden) is a neighbourhood of Helsinki, Finland, with around 4000 inhabitants in 2005. The district is located adjacent to the immediate downtown area, though in the first major town plan for Helsinki from the mid-18th cent ...
, linking with the planned north–south line of the Helsinki Metro.
References
{{Tram systems in Finland
Transport in Helsinki
Tram transport in Finland
2026 in rail transport