26.01.2022
The investment programme for the state-owned fairway network does not improve the accessibility of Northern Finland and does not meet the needs of business and industry
On Wednesday 26 January 2022, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency published the State Road Network Investment Programme for 2022-2029. The most important projects for the municipalities of the Oulu region and Northern Finland are completely missing from the programme. The investment programme for the fairway network does not include the Liminka-Oulu twin track, the development of the Oulu station centre and railway yard, or the development of the northern sections of VT4.
The investment programme for the state-owned transport network does not meet the objectives of the Transport 12 plan in terms of accessibility, sustainability, efficiency and combating climate change in the Oulu region and Northern Finland. The programme also fails to meet the EU's transport policy objectives.
The lack of Finland's main line and highway 4 in Northern Finland does not support the recently adopted TEN-T core network corridor decision and the objective of making full use of EU CEF funding enshrined in the Transport 12 plan. In the investment programme, the development of rail traffic is focused only on southern Finland, although by far the majority of major industrial investments requiring large rail capacity are pending in northern Finland.
The Oulu region's importance for the economy of Northern Finland and for national and international accessibility is significant and must be reflected in the investments made in the network of fairways in the region.
The investment programme for the fairway is updated annually and the projects are financed from the state budget. The Finnish Government and Parliament must ensure the financing and implementation of key projects in Northern Finland, even though they do not exist in the current Väylä investment programme.
Additional information:
Pauli Harju, Regional Director, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, tel. +358 400 389 152
Päivi Laajalla, Mayor of Oulu, tel. +358 40 180 1168
Oulu, 26 January 2022
Municipalities of the Oulu region
Hailuoto Municipality, Ii Municipality, Kempele Municipality, Liminka Municipality, Lumijoki Municipality, Muhos Municipality, City of Oulu, Tyrnävä Municipality
Regional Assembly of Oulu Region
