Just this week, Helsinki was crowned one of the world’s most walkable cities by ’s survey of locals – and now the Finnish capital is showing the world exactly why it deserves the accolade.
Helsinki has just inaugurated one of the longest pedestrian bridges on the planet. Named the Kruunuvuorensilta Bridge, the structure stretches an impressive 1,191 metres across the water, linking the city districts of Korkeasaari and Kruunuvuorenranta.
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Unlike most mega-bridges, this one is designed specifically for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport, meaning no private cars will be permitted. It’s part of a wider push to make Helsinki greener and more connected, with a focus on walking, biking and trams over unnecessary traffic jams.
While the sheer scale of the bridge is already jaw-dropping enough, the new crossing dramatically cuts the distance between the city centre and the fast-developing Kruunuvuorenranta district from around 11 kilometres to just 5.5.
The bridge is part of a larger urban development project aimed at better connecting Helsinki’s islands (of which there are over 300) and expanding public transport. A new tramline will eventually run across it, linking growing neighbourhoods to the city centre and supporting a rapidly increasing population in the area.
Connections are not only improving on a city-level but across the wider Nordic region – just last week, Finland announced a new train route that will connect with Sweden for the first time.
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