Visit of Russian President to affect traffic in Helsinki and Vantaa on Wednesday 21 August

Visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin will affect public transport in Helsinki and Vantaa on Wednesday 21 August 2019. The most significant impacts will be on Mannerheimintie and in the surroundings of the Presidential Palace. Suomenlinna ferry services will also be affected. Furthermore, there will be disruptions to tram services. Diversions and delays are expected in particular from 4pm.

Motorcades will disrupt traffic especially in downtown Helsinki but also on roads between Helsinki Airport and downtown Helsinki. The motorcade routes will be closed to traffic. The Market Square will be closed on Wednesday and water bus and cruise ship piers will also be closed.

Delays and diversions are expected to public transport throughout Wednesday but in particular from 4pm. Tram and bus services in downtown Helsinki will be affected in particular. Tram routes will be diverted and possibly disrupted during the meeting.

Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys via downtown Helsinki or the main roads. The metro and commuter trains are expected to run as usual and passengers are advised to use them where possible. Information about changes to public transport is available at hsl.fi, via the HSL app and at reittiopas.hsl.fi

Changes to bus services

There are disruptions tof up to 30 minutes to buses running along or across Mannerheimintie. The disruptions affect e.g. buses running from Elielinaukio and trunk routes 500 and 510.

In addition, bus 17 is diverted from 11.30am until the end of service. The bus runs in both directions via Kapteeninkatu, Korkeavuorenkatu, Yrjönkatu, Erottaja, Mannerheimintie, Kaivokatu and Kaisaniemenkatu. The bus serves all stops along the diversion.

The following stops are not served: Neitsytpolku (0438 and 0439), Kaivopuisto (1984 and 0436), Olympiaterminaali (1987 and 1988), Pohj. Makasiininkatu (1985 and 2108), Kauppatori (2005), Ritarihuone (2006 and 2007), Kirkkokatu (2008 and 2009), Vironkatu (2010 and 2011) sekä Liisankatu (2012).

Changes to tram services

There will be disruptions to tram services as motorcades pass different streets. During the disruptions, trams will stop at stops and wait there. In addition, the "Kauppatori" (H0430 and H0431) and "Ritarihuone" (H0407 and H0408) tram stops will be closed throghout the day.

Changes to Suomenlinna ferry services

HSL's ferry to Suomenlinna will run between the Katajanokka service pier and Suomenlinna service pier all day. The first ferry will depart form Suomenlinna at 6am and from Katajanokka at 6.20am, the last ferry from Suomenlinna will be at 2am and from Katajanokka at 2.20am. Tram 4 will operate to Merisotilaantori as usual, providing access to the Katajanokka service pier from the city center.

Suomenlinna ferry timetables on Wed 21 August 2019

Please note that cars, motorcycles and mopeds cannot be transported to/from Suomenlinna from 3.45pm.

The archipelago ferry JT-Line will exceptionally operate from Hakaniemenranta to Suomenlinna. HSL's tickets are not accepted on the ferry.

Suomenlinnan huoltolaituri

Katajanokan huoltolaituri

For information about effects on traffic in general, see the websites and social media sites of the police and the City of Helsinki:

Special traffic arrangements
Surroundings of the Presidential Palace and the rest of the central city area: On Wednesday 21 August, the Market Square will be closed to all traffic from 12noon.

The following special traffic arrangements will be in place in central Helsinki approximately from 12noon:

  • Access from Pohjoisranta to the city center will be via Liisankatu
  • Mannerheimintie will be closed part of the time and traffic will be disrupted along Mannerheimintie
  • Pohjoisesplanadi will be closed to traffic part of the time

Traffic to ports

  • Traffic to ports will be affected on Wednesday afternoon. Katajanokka can be accessed only via Meritullintori and Kanavakatu, while Ullanlinna, Kaivopuisto and Olympia Terminal can only be accessed from the west.