Demolition | Harri Kivi fears that the bridge demolition work in Helsinki’s Hakaniemi will destroy the sensitive sound reproduction

In Merihaa resident Harri Kivi is mature.

Directly in front of his balcony, the old Hakaniemensilta is being demolished and a cloud of white dust is rising from the construction site. The wind brings fine dust to the balcony and inside the apartment.

“I noticed today that the house smells like concrete. Dust makes living unbearable,” says Kivi.

During the heat, Kivi has had to keep the windows and the balcony door open, because the temperature inside is over 30 degrees.

It hasn’t rained in Helsinki for weeks, so the ground is very dry.

Site has been dusting for a week now. What infuriates Kive is that he thinks that not enough water is used in the demolition work.

“Today the situation got out of hand. There were at least eight work machines at the best time at noon. White clouds of dust rose from the machines. The air was like a white fog”, describes Kivi.

Kivi is afraid that the fine dust inside the apartment will break his audio equipment. Kive’s two Burmese cats are also scared of demolition work.

Kivi visited the site on Monday and reached two site supervisors from the site. He inquired about using water in demolition work. There, he was assured that water would be used.

Stone is also concerned about the health effects of stone dust when exposed to it for a long time. Are there substances harmful to health in the concrete of the bridge, Kivi wonders.

The bridge site manager responsible for dismantling Riku Varonen YIT says that at the demolition site, water is used for every machine in accordance with the plans.

“In practice, concrete is watered all the time. It’s about what is being dismantled and the demolition piles to be moved,” says Varonen.

According to him, the use of water has also increased during the week due to the dry weather. Some of the machines have their own water cannons, and there are also staff on site with water hoses.

According to the site manager, no substances harmful to health have been found in the bridge structures.

“Harmful substance surveys have been carried out at the site and no dangerous substances were found. I don’t know where the rumors started,” says Varonen.

According to him, it is possible that the fact that all dust is harmful to health when inhaled is behind the delusion.

Varonen confirms that at best there will be up to eight machines on site, as the bridge is being dismantled from both ends.

According to the site manager, the demolition of the old bridge will last until the end of September. Towards the end, the dusty work phase is reduced.

Stone can’t wait until fall.

“This cannot continue. I have to think about who to contact next. Or I go to the hotel with the cats,” says Kivi.

Hakaniemensila bridge the construction is part of the Kruunusillat tramway project to be completed in 2027.

The new tram runs from Hakaniemi to Laajasalo via Korkeasaari and Kalasatama.

Kruunusillat is the contractor for the overall project, YIT Infra Oy and Kreate Oy.

The new bridge in Hakaniemi was completed at the end of May 2024. Construction took about three years. People at the opening were able to walk on the roadway of the bridge.

The construction and demolition works of the Hakaniemensi bridge are not part of the tramway project, but are the responsibility of the Kruunusillat alliance.

The parties to the alliance are the City of Helsinki, Kaupunkiliikenne Oy, YIT Infra Oy, NRC Group Finland Oy, Ramboll Finland Oy, Sweco Finland Oy and Sitowise Oy.

Correction May 31 at 2:50 p.m.: Clarified parties responsible for the construction and demolition of the Kruununsillat project and the Hakaniemensillat project.