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Hailuoto Causeway FAQ

What is Hailuoto Causeway?

The plan is to build a causeway between Riutunkari in Oulu and Huikku on Hailuoto Island. The causeway will replace the current ferry service.

The causeway will be approximately 8.4 kilometres long, and it will consist of a road running on top of an embankment and long bridges in Huikku and Riutunkari. The bridge in Huikku will be located approximately one kilometre from Hailuoto. The total length of the bridge will be approximately 770 metres, and its vertical under-clearance will be 18 metres where it crosses the shipping channel. The bridge in Riutunkari will be located to the north of the current ferry port. The total length of the bridge will be approximately 740 metres, and the vertical under-clearance of its central opening will be five metres.

 

What is the current status of the Hailuoto Causeway project?

Funding was secured for the project in the autumn of 2017, and the plan is to implement the project in accordance with the PPP model. The road plan was completed in April 2018. The procedure outlined in the Finnish Highways Act was initiated after the completion of the road plan.

The road plan was completed in April 2018. The procedure involves requesting opinions on the road plan from various stakeholders as well as the City of Oulu and the Municipality of Hailuoto. Before giving their opinions, the City of Oulu and the Municipality of Hailuoto will make the road plan available to the public. The Finnish Transport Agency will decide on the fate of the project once all opinions and objections have been reviewed.

How will the causeway benefit Hailuoto?

The causeway will make Hailuoto more easily accessible nationally and regionally, enable better passenger and goods transport links to the island and local businesses, and widen the working area of Hailuoto residents.

The causeway will make Hailuoto equal with other municipalities in the Oulu region in terms of transport. The planned capacity of the causeway is also able to accommodate a considerably greater increase in transport volumes than forecast. The causeway enables meeting the objectives set for private and public transport, logistics and pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

Where will the causeway be located?
The causeway will be located to the north of the current ferry route.
How long will the causeway be?
The total length of the causeway will be 8.4 kilometres.
How will the causeway fit in with its surroundings?
The aim has been to design the causeway to fit in with its surroundings as well as possible. A wide range of new environmental surveys and flow modelling were carried out and previous studies consulted during the planning process. The area’s vulnerable ecosystem has been taken into account in the designs. The challenging sea conditions were also factored into the structural solutions.
How does the project impact on its environment?
Direct impacts on the sea and its immediate surroundings will be minor. The project will change the environment locally but will not cause any notable harm to protected species or habitats. Protecting the environment is one of the most important objectives of risk management during the project.
How much will it cost to build the causeway?
The cost estimate for the construction works is approximately EUR 73.5 million. The project is socioeconomically viable. The project’s benefit-cost ratio is 1.64, which is the factor by which the money invested in the project will be returned to society through the benefits achieved.
Would a ferry service not be a more affordable solution?

The current ferry service is not meeting its economic objectives, and its annual operating and maintenance costs amount to approximately EUR 5.8 million. Continuing to operate the ferry service would require investments in new ferries and more services over the next few years.

The ferry service causes businesses on Hailuoto to incur extra expenses in the form of logistics costs, for example. The ferry service also makes businesses located on Hailuoto less competitive.

Page updated 18.06.2019