Participate and influence

You can contribute to the creation of a good plan by giving input on important issues during planning.

The parties involved in interaction, and the scope and content of interaction are formed on the basis of the planning phase and the nature of the project. It is important for citizens and other planning parties to influence planning at the right time.

The planning of transport infrastructure projects is a process that becomes more detailed as it advances. The precision of planning and decision-making for each phase will be coordinated with land use planning. Not all the planning phases are always needed. In small projects not all phases are required and phases can be combined. Major projects and projects that are significant for the environment are assessed in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure either before or at the same time as the master plan. During the EIA process, the public and the authorities will be heard twice.

During the preliminary study phase, the main focus is on cooperation between different authorities. Numerous solutions for improving the transport infrastructure may be available during the preliminary study. The number of alternatives will decline as planning becomes more detailed.

During general planning, cooperation bodies include municipalities, regional councils, environmental authorities and other planning organisations, landowners, local residents, entrepreneurs and various non-governmental organisations, and, in the case of waterways, ports and shipping companies. Extensive interaction is particularly important during general planning, as this is when the most important basic solutions for the project will be decided. The general plan defines the approximate location of the road and railway, the need for space and how these will relate to surrounding land use.

The preparation of a road and railway plan is the detailed planning of roads and railways that aims at the implementation of the project. When drawing up the road and railway plan, in addition to regional councils, environmental authorities and municipalities, landowners, residents and entrepreneurs in the neighbouring area of the road and railway as well as the necessary other authorities will also be involved in interaction. Under a road and railway plan, the state has the right to take possession of the areas indicated in the plan and begin construction of a road or railway.

There is no similar legislation-based planning phase regarding waterways as there is for road and railway planning. The location of a waterway is determined during the permit process pursuant to the Water Act, at which time the parties concerned also have the opportunity to influence the project and its implementation.

Construction planning is related to the immediate implementation of the project, is often included in the contract and is only carried out once the project funding has been arranged. Building planning is the technical design of the project, and public debate is no longer sought during this phase.

Information on projects, public notices

The party responsible for planning publishes public notices related to general, road and track plans on its website concerning the launch of planning, making the plan available to the public or approval of the plan. Public notices are also published in the newspapers sold in the municipalities in the planning area. Public notices include the name and type of planning site as well as the parties and persons responsible for the planning.

Links to the public notices website of the parties responsible for planning


You can also find information about the projects on our website under the section Information on planning sites.

You can influence planning, for example by:

• Personally speaking with the people drawing up the plan
• Having an influence through the municipality’s employees (most often members of cooperation groups).
• Working actively in organisations and associations that promote your interests, etc.