Technical excursions during the Congress

Energy and multi-utility tunnel network of Helsinki
Beneath Helsinki lie more than 40 km of Helsinki Energy's multi-utility and energy tunnels, which contain district heating and cooling pipelines, 110 kV cables, medium-voltage cables and optical data transfer cables, as well as the main pipelines of Helsinki Water.

Itäkeskus underground swimming centre
The underground swimming centre was carved into bedrock in 1993. The spa-type underground space contains a 50-metre swimming pool, whirlpool baths, saunas, a gym, etc. The facility can be converted into a shelter for 3,800 persons.

Viikinmäki underground wastewater treatment plant
HSY Water has centralised all of Helsinki's wastewater treatment operations into the Viikinmäki wastewater treatment plant. The total volume of excavated rock was 1,200,000 m3. The first phase (1,000,000 m3) was excavated in 1988-91 and the second phase (200,000 m3) in 2000-01.

Otaniemi - underground spaces
Over 50 underground spaces, including the national film archives, the underground shelters of the Dipoli conference centre and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Helsinki University of Technology campus area connection tunnels, Laboratory of Rock Engineering test tunnel, etc.

West Metro Project
13.9-km long twin tunnel and 7 new stations. Construction started in late 2009. The westbound metro line will be owned by the cities of Helsinki and Espoo.
www.lansimetro.fi

KEHU - City Service tunnel
2.5-km service tunnel across the city, from east to west, under the historical centre of Helsinki. Construction will be finished in 2010. The tunnel will be used to service shops, restaurants, offices and hotels in the area.

Underground coal storage and district cooling
Helsinki Energy's underground coal storage facility in Salmisaari was built in 2001-03. The project also included an underground district cooling centre, a power station and 3.5 km of tunnels. The total excavated volume was 550,000 m3. Each coal silo is 65 metres high and has a 40-metre diameter with a circular plan cross-section. The volumetric capacity of each silo is 81,000 m3.

Ring Rail Line (Kehärata)
Airport transit is a new rail section connecting the city centre to Vantaankoski local track with the main northbound rail track. The whole project consists of 18 km of new double track and 8 new stations. Of this, 8 km of track and 4 stations will be fully underground. The owners of the project are the Finnish Rail Administration and the City of Vantaa. www.keharata.fi

Parking and service tunnels for Finlandia Hall and new Music Centre of Helsinki
The Music Centre of Helsinki and the enlargement of historic Finlandia Hall will be opened in spring 2012. New parking and service tunnels will be situated into caverns under the new built facilities and surrounding traffic roads. In the 150 000 m3 underground parking cavern there is space for 650 parking plots. Present on ground parking and service areas will be transferred into a public city park