Tikkurila, Finland – Construction of the Vantaa Light Rail is causing significant disruption for businesses in Tikkurila, with some reporting reduced hours and staff reductions as customers struggle to access the area. The ongoing work, particularly the closure of Kielotie – a major thoroughfare – and the resulting rerouting of traffic, is creating challenges for both businesses and pedestrians.
The construction began in June 2025, with tracks being closed one at a time to allow for the building of bridges that will eventually support a tunnel underneath the railway lines. Despite the phased approach, designed to minimize disruption to train services, local businesses are feeling the strain.
Karina Paakki, owner of a popular café and lunch restaurant in Tikkurila, says her business was forced to eliminate evening service last autumn due to a decline in customers. “The number of visitors for lunch has decreased by about 20 percent,” Paakki explained. “Customers are coming from further away. There aren’t offices above us anymore. Their routes have become much more difficult.” She noted that her catering business is helping to offset some of the losses.
The Punto & pasta restaurant is also experiencing difficulties, reporting a more than 30 percent drop in sales since the start of the tram construction. Owner Giuliana Mirabella stated that the restaurant has been forced to reduce staff hours, with some employees moving to part-time positions. “We are also considering closing on Monday evenings,” Mirabella said.
The construction has created a chaotic situation for pedestrians and cyclists, with detours and blocked access points. Mirabella also highlighted issues with parking, stating that promised parking spaces have not materialized, and even delivery drivers are being ticketed. “The city promised parking spaces by the beginning of December. Now it’s already February, and there’s no sign of them,” she said.
Mirabella, who has lived in the Tikkurila area her entire life, expressed a desire to see the area develop but called for clearer communication from the city regarding the construction’s impact. “If I had moved here now, it wouldn’t matter so much what’s happening around here,” she said.
Esa Mänttäri, CEO of Vantaa Entrepreneurs, echoed these concerns, stating that the accessibility of businesses has been significantly impaired. “To my knowledge, none of the businesses have seen an improvement in turnover. No one’s profitability has improved,” Mänttäri said.
Mänttäri expressed concern over the impact on businesses and noted that some are already reducing their operating hours and considering layoffs. He emphasized the need for improved signage and guidance to help people navigate the area during construction.
According to Hannu Lehtikankare, project manager for the tram line, the project website is being continuously updated with the latest information on construction impacts. The Vantaa Light Rail is the largest investment in the city’s history, with a total estimated cost of around 750 million euros, of which the city’s funding share is 541 million euros. The route will run from Mellunmäki in Helsinki to Aviapolis in Vantaa, with a new plan for the airport terminal stop to be finalized by the end of June. Construction is expected to last nearly four years, with traffic expected to begin at the end of 2029.
The city of Vantaa acknowledges that the construction areas are extensive and that detours are lengthy in some places. They state they are monitoring walking routes and the effectiveness of signage and are working to develop improvement solutions. They also note that while parking on the streets has been reduced, there is ample space in the parking facilities in the Tikkurila area.
The construction work at Tikkurila station involves building temporary bridges over all tracks and platforms to prevent disruption to long-distance and commuter trains. Once the bridges are in place, construction of the tram tunnel can begin. The tunnel construction at Tikkurila station is expected to take about three years.
