The Informal Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Competitiveness and the visit of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan will affect traffic arrangements in the metropolitan area, especially in Helsinki and Vantaa, from Tuesday, 2 July 2019 until Friday, 5 July 2019.
The most significant impact will occur in the centre of Helsinki and on the main routes between Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and Helsinki city centre.
– Both the Informal Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Competitiveness and the visit of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan will cause regular, short traffic interruptions due to their convoys, says Jarkko Lehtinen , Superintendent of the Helsinki Police Department.
Lehtinen estimates that the impacts on traffic are similar to the ones during the Council of Europe meeting in Helsinki in May.
Most severe traffic interruptions on Friday afternoon
The visit of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan will affect traffic arrangements in the Helsinki city centre on Tuesday, 2 July from 2 pm until 5 pm.
As far as the Informal Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Competitiveness is concerned, the impact on traffic will start around 1 pm on Wednesday, 3 July and last until the evening. The visitors will land at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport during this time. The most significant traffic interruptions will be on Tuusulantie, on Kehä I and on Mannerheimintie in the direction of the Helsinki city centre.
Likewise, the Informal Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Competitiveness will cause short traffic interruptions between 8 am and midnight on Thursday, 4 July, especially in the surroundings of Finlandia Hall. The visitors will also move from their hotels to evening events.
The most significant hindrances to traffic in the city centre will be in the surroundings of the meeting place, Finlandia Hall, and generally on Mannerheimintie, but there will be widespread traffic interruptions elsewhere in the inner-city area, for example in the vicinity of some hotels, says Lehtinen.
The Informal Meeting of Competitiveness Ministers will also significantly affect traffic on the exit lanes from Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa airport on Friday, 5 July. There will most likely be traffic delays on the route Mannerheimintie–Kehä I–Tuusulantie between 8 am and 7 pm.
– The most significant traffic interruptions will most likely take place during the Friday afternoon rush hour. When driving northward, it is advisable to use other routes than Mannerheimintie and Tuusulantie.
Public transport, cycling and walking
Changes are expected in public transport, especially in Helsinki inner city and on routes between the airport and Helsinki city centre.
Exceptions are reported on the Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) website at hsl.fi and in the Poikkeusinfo service.
Bicycle or pedestrian traffic will not be allowed in the surroundings of Finlandia Hall, as the area is completely isolated. However, you can get around the Töölönlahti bay right along the shore.
Before and during the meeting days, it is advisable to follow the following websites and social media channels:
Helsinki Police Department: www.twitter.com/helsinkipoliisi, www.poliisi.fi/helsinki, www.facebook.com/helsinginpoliisilaitos, www.instagram.com/helsinkipoliisi
Eastern Uusimaa Police Department: www.twitter.com/iupoliisi
HSL: HSL.fi and the Poikkeusinfo service
Further information:
Jarkko Lehitinen, Superintendent, Helsinki Police Department, tel. +358 295 471 641 (traffic arrangements in Helsinki)
Head of Communications Jukka Matilainen, Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, tel. +358 295 438 753 (traffic arrangements in the surroundings of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and elsewhere in Vantaa)
HSL communication service, tel. +358 40 163 2818
