Construction of the Streets in the Port Area

New Transport Connections for the Increasing Traffic Volumes

The street construction project will improve transport connections and create the conditions for the development of the Port of Turku and the anticipated increase in traffic volumes. A new joint terminal is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2027. The existing terminal buildings will be decommissioned, and Viking Line and Tallink Silja will relocate to the new terminal.

The move to the joint terminal will optimize land use in the port area, enabling the construction of new residential and commercial spaces, supporting the city’s growth objectives. In addition, the port and its services will become more closely integrated into Turku city centre.

• The construction of the harbour streets is part of the development of Linnakaupunki

Improving Railway Connections

The plans also include relocating the Turku harbour railway to a new route on the northern side of Linnanniemi. This relocation is a joint project between the City of Turku and the state. Once completed, the new harbour railway will provide a more functional and safer connection between Turku city centre and the harbour.

The existing harbour railway is planned to be removed, freeing up the area for other uses.

Väylävirasto (Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency) launched the planning of the new harbour railway at the beginning of 2025. The project has now progressed to the preparation of track and construction plans, and cost estimates from earlier planning phases are being revised.

The project has an approved mandate of 18 million euros under the MAL agreement, of which the state contributes 11 million euros and the City of Turku 7 million euros. No final decision has yet been made regarding construction.

Clear Guidance Minimises Disruption

During the works, signs and guidance following the City of Turku’s wayfinding concept will be used in the harbour area. Clear signs help people moving around the area find the routes they need easily and make it safe to move near the construction sites.

The guidance includes signposts, signs, information boards and map boards. The signs are provided in three languages: Finnish, Swedish and English. Pictograms, meaning image signs and symbols, are also used. Accessibility is also being taken into account more and more, and tactile maps, for example, will be introduced in the harbour area.

The signs are placed close together so that the next sign can always be seen from the previous one, making electronic navigation unnecessary.

The needs of pedestrians and cyclists have been taken into account in particular when planning detours and signs. This can be seen, for example, in the fact that pedestrian and cycling detours have been made more direct than routes for motorists.

Turku’s wayfinding concept is unique as an urban wayfinding system, because the same visual identity and logic can be applied to both outdoor and indoor routes. This provides a consistent and easy-to-understand wayfinding path throughout the city. The wayfinding concept was awarded the Fennia Prize design award in 2020.