Abstract

The presentation concerns a road project connecting Finland with Sweden, from the City of Vaasa across the Gulf of Bothnia to Umeå, 50-70 kms depending on the alignment. Exports account for 25% of Finland’s GDP, and 95% of these exports are transported by sea from Finnish ports in the South. High logistics costs and geopolitical situation are the primary motivations for building the road. It is expected to be on an embankment road with two bridges, one 3 km long and the other 26 km long. A tunnel can replace the shorter bridge with a shipping channel, thereby avoiding a high bridge passage. Because in winter and ice, unique technology and construction methods are proposed.
The preliminary cost estimate for the road is €3.5–5 billion, depending on the alignment, with a construction time of 4-5 years after the necessary permits have been secured. As a toll road, the link is likely to have a positive NPV, with the European Union's share of 30% for cross-country connections.
Among the many benefits, the bridge would foster economic growth on both sides of the Gulf of Bothnia and improve logistics for industries, ensuring supply security and enhancing military mobility and security. The road would also improve Finland’s access to the Norwegian harbors on the Atlantic.
The Government of Finland is conducting a preliminary study on the project, which is expected to be completed by the fall of this year. The procurement of the project is likely to be a design-build public-private partnership (PPP) or a project with private financing only. Several international construction companies have expressed interest in the project.

Bio

Mr. Talvitie is a transportation consultant and certified psychoanalyst. He resides in Chicago, IL, USA. He is Professor (Emeritus) at Aalto University, Finland. Previously, Mr. Talvitie was a Senior Transport Specialist at the World Bank, served as Director of Highway Construction and Maintenance in the Finnish Road Administration, and was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY-Buffalo). Mr. Talvitie graduated from Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. He has an MSc and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. He is a Certified Psychoanalyst (Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis).

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