€70 million National Highway 3 development project completed a year ahead of the schedule 

Construction work on the project of the Finnish National Highway 3 started in the summer 2020, and is completed in November 2022, a year ahead of the schedule. The original plan stated the commissioning would take place in the autumn of 2023.

The highway through Hämeenkyrö was upgraded by constructing a 10-kilometer dual-carriageway section with four lanes. The road has 3 level crossings and 11 bridges. Infrakit has been part of the implementation throughout the whole project. All the way from the design stage to site supervision and quality assurance.

The current average daily traffic volume (ADT) on the sections of Highway 3 along the link is between 2 500 and 16 900 cars per day. By 2040, the average daily traffic is projected to increase to between 2 800 and 24 700 cars per day. The share of heavy goods vehicles in total traffic varies between 6% and 16% (Vayla.fi).

The project was built by the Finnish Transport Agency and contracted by Destia. The new road section will reduce travel time between Helsinki and Vaasa and improve traffic flow and safety on the motorway.

A major infrastructure project requires extensive planning

Good planning is an essential factor in avoiding schedule delays. Infrakit has been involved in the project from the very beginning, collecting the design data.

As part of the digitalization of the industry, Infrakit’s software makes it easier to work in various stages. The software streamlines the flow of information from the design table through implementation to reporting.

The site was executed using a traditional contractor model, but road design solutions were first conceived and developed together. The digital platform has streamlined the design process. Maps and 3D modeling available to all planners have demonstrated the progress of the plans.

In terms of monitoring, Infrakit can be used to control the execution and accuracy of the data. This allows the progress of work to be monitored almost in real time. In addition, accurate data can be compared with the designed surfaces and levels according to structural tolerances.

Digitizing and streamlining the flow of information influences decision-making and follow-up. This contributes significantly to meeting deadlines.

Smooth communication on-site reduces delays

Responding to challenges and changes and making decisions during the project are essential to staying on schedule. Huge amounts of data are generated on-site during construction, and organising and sharing this data considerably speeds up the work.

The collected data makes it much easier to build up a picture of the situation and monitor the work. Decision-making is also easier when there is sufficient contextual data and facts to back it up.

The Infrakit platform allows users to upload orthophotos as map images, on which plans can be visualized. This makes it easy to see that roads, lines and structures have been built where they were designed on the site. This helps to monitor the implementation and progress of works such as pavements, road markings and finishing and surfacing works.

Sustainable development reforms infrastructure construction industry

Sustainability is also evident in the development of roadworks. The Hämeenkyrö project has had a strong focus on the reuse of construction materials, which the Finnish Transport Agency supports with renewed sustainability guidelines. Infrakit is part of this trend. Improved information flow and more efficient use of resources will bring savings in used materials and energy.

Costs can be cut by using recycled materials. This also saves natural resources and allows waste to be recycled instead of simply being landfilled. In Hämeenkyrö, suitable materials imported from the local area have been used for noise barriers and surface materials.

“It’s really rewarding to see our client succeed in their project using the latest digital processes. Of course, an efficiently implemented project has also a significantly lower carbon footprint,” says Teemu Kivimäki, the CEO of Infrakit.

Infrakit promotes the eco-friendliness and sustainability of infra-construction by optimizing resources. Particularly as raw material prices rise, resource efficiency brings significant cost savings. Read more about Infrakit’s sustainability.