17.09.2020
The airport road will be developed at the current location in the future
The preliminary study on traffic connections at Oulu Airport has been completed. According to the study, the current Airport Road will be developed as an airport transport connection with additional lanes. Public transport connections are strongly taken into account in the development of the Airport Road. New, faster bus routes will be presented in the first phase between the airport and Oulu Travel Centre and the centre of Kempele. Other additional routes should be considered in the directions of Linnamaa and Ritaharju, Hiukkavaara and Liminka.
As a result of the assessment of the impact of the work, the booking of the new airport roads in the plans, which revolves around the centre of Oulunsalo, is no longer considered necessary and this booking will be abandoned. Similarly, no land use or traffic issues were found in favour of the development of the road connection between Tupos and Oulunsalo agglomeration/airport. The implementation of the rail link from Kaakkuri to the airport was considered to be so unrealistic that it cannot be regarded as a sensible transport connection to the airport.
In the first phase of the airport's transport connections development project, a scenario analysis of the airport's transport connections was prepared in 2040. Based on the scenario study, the clear goal has been to ensure the accessibility of the airport by public transport, which is reliable and highly predictable in terms of travel time.
Nine alternatives to the airport's transport connections have been identified in the study. All options have been assessed on the basis of the same criteria derived from the transport project assessment framework. Three options were selected for further consideration. These options, which were studied in more detail, were:
A: Development of the existing Airport Route
B: The southern bypass of the Oulunsalo settlement, the so-called Uusi Lentontie
C: Kaakkuri terminal
Opinions on the project were requested from municipalities and transport stakeholders in the Oulu region in early summer 2020. 20 referrals were sent and 13 opinions were received. The statements were in line with the conclusions of the study. Some refinements were made to the impact assessment and conclusions.
Read the final report of the pre-study this and presentation slides this.
The development of the airport's transport connections has been guided by a working group consisting of representatives of the North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia, the Oulu Region, Oulu Airport, the City of Oulu, the municipality of Kempele and the municipality of Liminka, as well as the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. The transport consultant is Ramboll Finland Oy and the service consultant is Sweco Environment Oy.
The Working Party approved the report at its meeting on 18 August 2020. The preliminary study has been carried out as an expert review of land use planning as a background study and as a basis for more detailed traffic arrangements plans. The analyses have been carried out on the general characteristics with precision that serves land use planning, and the study serves as a basis for changes to the regional, general and city plans concerning the airport's connections.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, the City of Oulu and the municipality of Kempele are starting to draw up a road plan to improve the current Airport Road.
The project will include:
- The road will be widened to a four-lane middle rail road
- The current railway line will be renewed and a new bridge for additional lanes will be built next to it, so that there will also be two lanes from Oulunsalo towards Kaakkuri
- The Vihiluoto junction will be converted into a nelihaara junction with traffic light control
- The roundabout will be transformed into a so-called turbo roundabout
In addition, pedestrian and cycle road connections will be developed, as well as underpasses, bus stop arrangements, noise protection and private roads, and waterway bridges will be renewed.
For more information on the preparatory work, please contact:
Jussi Rämet, Senior Vice President, Planning, tel. 040 586 3877, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia
Heino Heikkinen, Head of Unit, tel. 0295 038 241, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia
Erkki Sarjanoja, Project Manager, tel. 040 576 0484, Ramboll Finland Oy
Tapio Tuuttila, Service Consultant, tel. 040 700 8274, Sweco Environment Ltd.
Keywords:
transport connections
