Renovation and reinforcement of the eastern riverbank wall in Old Porvoo as part of the cultural-historical environment

The stone riverbank wall on the eastern shore of Old Porvoo has tilted over the years, and as part of the renovation, it will be straightened and reinforced with bored piles. The seawall is a technically and environmentally challenging project that combines our infrastructure engineers’ meticulous planning, specialized expertise, and consideration for the sensitive operating environment. In addition to dismantling the original wallstones, the project involves documenting the stones and reinstalling them as cladding for the new concrete structure. This ensures that the character of the historic environment is preserved as close to its original state as possible.

Work will begin with the demolition of the old wall, and during the initial phase of the project, support structures and sheet pile walls will be installed, and the necessary excavation work will be carried out. In mid-summer, drilled pile work will begin; the ramp on the Jokikatu side will be supported by an anchored sheet pile wall, and new foundation slabs will be constructed to provide a durable and stable foundation for the seawall. In late summer and early fall, the wallstones will be reinstalled and reinforced with concrete to become part of the new structure. KFS Finland Oy, a joint venture of Kreate, is responsible for the pile driving and anchoring work.

The repair of the riverbank wall begins in a setting familiar to our builders—namely, the Old Porvoo Bridge, which we repaired last summer—and continues along the banks of Porvoonjoki all the way to the iconic riverside barns; in total, we will be repairing approximately 120 meters of the riverbank wall. Most of the work will be carried out from a specially equipped barge, thereby reducing construction traffic on the narrow streets of Old Porvoo and minimizing the impact on pedestrian traffic, tourism, and local businesses. During construction, we also pay special attention to the city’s historic buildings and the safety of the surrounding area, for example by conducting inspections and monitoring vibrations through measurements.

We successfully completed the challenging project involving the bridge in Porvoo’s Old Town, located near the riverbank wall, ahead of schedule. Working on the water, considering the existing structures, and close collaboration with the client have provided valuable expertise that is now being applied to the renovation of the eastern riverbank wall. During the project, we will also reuse excavated soil and existing stones whenever possible, which supports material reuse and sustainable construction.

The client is the City of Porvoo, and the contract period is April 2026–December 2026.