EIA process for West Harbour expansion underway

 The first public event was held at the West Harbour on 2 November. Pekka Hellström, VP Technical Services at the Port of Helsinki, and EIA consultant Liisa Suhonen presented the assessment programme. The evening was chaired by Liisa Nyrölä from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY). Around forty people interested in the port expansion attended the event, either in person or remotely.

The expansion of the West Harbour will involve both land filling and the construction of a tunnel leading from the port to Länsiväylä highway. All of the trucks passing through the port will be directed through the Port Tunnel, as will westbound car traffic leaving the port.

The assessment programme has been submitted to the ELY centre, as it is this authority’s task to announce it and request statements. An EIA report on the project will then be made, and the entire process should be complete in about a year’s time.