KARIKKO OVERPASS BRIDGE RENEWAL ABOVE THE KOUVOLA-MIKKELI RAILWAY

Kreate’s bridge and railway construction professionals are undertaking a project in Mikkeli to replace the aging Karikko overpass bridge. The work is progressing with careful consideration of traffic on Vanha Otavantie, the main thoroughfare in the area, and the Savonia railway line running beneath the bridge.

The Karikko overpass bridge, also known as the Vanha Otavantie bridge, connects Mikkeli’s central district, the Rantakylä neighborhood, and the Otava urban area. The project involves demolishing the existing bridge and constructing both a temporary bypass bridge and a new permanent bridge adjacent to it.

The new Karikko overpass will be a post-tensioned concrete bridge, measuring 56 metres in length – approximately 20 metres longer than the current structure.

Construction above the electrified railway is inherently challenging, requiring meticulous planning and scheduling to accommodate rail traffic. An example of this is the demolition of the old concrete bridge, which was executed with minute-level precision during a scheduled rail traffic interruption in May. The resulting concrete debris is being efficiently repurposed on-site, and the steel components of the bridge are being recycled.

Specialised foundation work for the new bridge’s drilled piles is being handled by KFS Finland Oy, a company partially owned by Kreate. Additionally, Kreate’s railway unit professionals are responsible for implementing temporary speed restrictions on the railway and managing overhead lines during the demolition phase.

The client of the contract is the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Central Finland (Keski-Suomen ELY-keskus). The project lasts from March 2025 to October 2025.