The Unofficial EU meeting of the environment and climate ministers in Helsinki will affect traffic arrangements in the metropolitan area, especially in Helsinki and Vantaa, on Thursday, 10th of July and Friday, 12th of July, 2019.
The traffic will be affected between the Helsinki Airport and Finlandia Hall, which is serving as a meeting point, as the guests arrive between 2 PM and midnight on Wednesday, 10th of July.
Likewise, the traffic will be affected between Finlandia Hall and the Helsinki Airport as the guests leave between 2 PM and 7 PM on Friday 12th of July.
– EU meeting convoys cause regular yet short interruptions in the traffic, particularly on Wednesday and on Friday. The traffic is not affected on Thursday, Chief Inspector Jarkko Lehtinen from the Helsinki Police Department comments.
Interruptions during the afternoon traffic jam on Wednesday and Friday
The traffic is most likely affected on Wednesday afternoon during the rush hour as the guests arrive to Helsinki.
–The most significant traffic interruptions will be on Tuusulantie, on Kehä I, on Hämeenlinnanväylä and on Mannerheimintie in the direction of the Helsinki city centre.
The traffic is also interrupted during Friday afternoon as the guests are leaving towards the airport.
– I recommend that you use other routes than Mannerheimintie, Hämeenlinnanväylä, Kehä I and Tuusulanväylä at that time. You can for example use Itäväylä, Länsiväylä, Finnish national roads 1 and 4 or Vihdintie, Lehtinen lists.
According to Lehtinen, this meeting does not affect the traffic as much as last weeks EU meeting of ministers responsible for competitiveness did.
– There is a lot less convoys and they only use specific routes that do not for example go to the city centre of Helsinki.
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 Disruption info
Aviation restricted in the surroundings of Finlandia Hall
There are restrictions on aviation inside a temporary no-fly zone due to an unofficial EU meeting of the environment and climate ministers. The restrictions will be in place from Wednesday 10th of July 2019 at 8 am to Friday 12th of July 2019 at 9 pm.
Around Finlandia Hall, there will be a rectangular no-fly zone, extending 700–1000 metres from Finlandia Hall. The no-fly zone covers 300 metres above ground.
The no-fly zone has been established due to the security arrangements relating to the EU meeting.
– The Police monitors the restrictions actively and intervenes with any perceived violations. Ramifications of such violations include fines. In addition, the instruments of crime can be ordered forfeit to the State, says Chief Inspector Sami Hätönen who is responsible for air traffic during the event.
The restrictions will not apply to the military, border guard, police, customs, maritime and aviation authorities, nor the authorities engaged in rescue, paramedic or patient transport services, or flights authorised by them, when carrying out their duties requires flying over the area.
The restrictions will also not apply to urgent medical aviation activities on helicopters, or to flights based on an international obligation which Finland must comply with.
Read more about the subject and find more detailed information about airspace restrictions at droneinfo.fi.
Traffic will be affected here jpg, 207,5 kB
