Sweco has been awarded a major construction management contract in connection with the westward extension of the Helsinki underground metro, Finland’s largest-ever infrastructure investment. The project will improve travel efficiency and continue the sustainable growth of the Espoo suburb, the second-largest municipality in Finland. The client is Länsimetro and the assignment is valued at nearly SEK 180 million.

“Sweco demonstrated its high level of expertise in the earlier phases of the Helsinki metro construction, so we are very pleased to continue working with them,” said Matti Kokkinen, CEO of Länsimetro Ltd.

Under the assignment, Sweco will manage the construction of a seven-kilometre-long underground metro, five metro stations and a train depot. The new metro line will run underground and is highly important to the area’s urban development. Sweco has previously managed development of the 14-kilometre-long stretch of metro line that will open to traffic in autumn 2016. The new assignment entails a further westward extension of the metro line.

“The underground metro initiative will result in an environmentally friendly and efficient mode of transportation that doesn’t take up valuable urban space. Sweco plays a key role here in terms of managing the entire project in an effective way – from vision through completed transportation facility,” said Maija Jokela, CEO of Sweco PM.

Sweco’s work will begin immediately and continue through the completion of the new underground metro in 2020.