The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency has awarded a contract worth approximately €130m ($151m) to a consortium led by Destia, the Finnish subsidiary of Colas, and WSP Finland for the first phase of upgrades to the E18 Turku bypass through central Raisio.
The agreement forms part of a broader effort to modernise a major transport route that is integral to local logistics and industry.
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Under the joint venture agreement, construction began in July 2026, with the road scheduled to open to traffic by July 2030.
The E18 Turku bypass (National Road 40) is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and carries up to 31,000 vehicles per day.
Heavy road traffic in the area is attributed in part to the proximity of ports, an oil terminal and a shipyard, as well as industrial and logistics activities in the region.
Plans for the initial phase of the project include the construction of a concrete road tunnel approximately 420m in length, comprising three lanes in each direction beneath Raisio’s main avenue.
Additional upgrades to the urban road network are also scheduled, including new grade-separated interchanges and improvements to facilitate local journeys.
About 1.7km of the ring road will be upgraded to a 2+2-lane main road, and roughly 1.3km of Highway 8 will also be improved.
The Raisio interchange between the ring road and Highway 8 is set for reconstruction as a three-level interchange featuring a roundabout at the middle level.
The works include noise barriers and other measures to mitigate environmental impacts, as well as upgrades to pedestrian and cycling links.
Destia president and CEO Heikki Haasmaa said: “This project is one of the major road construction projects currently under way in Finland. It will draw on the full range of Destia’s expertise in the development of complex transportation infrastructure and demonstrates our ability to carry out strategic projects in challenging urban environments.
“Together with our partners, we are proud to contribute to the sustainable modernisation of a corridor that is essential to the country’s mobility and economy.”
The project is being delivered through an alliance including the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Fintraffic, the City of Raisio, Destia and WSP Finland, with objectives focusing on quality, performance and risk management.
In May, Destia signed a contract to carry out the second phase of construction on Finland’s Vantaa light rail project.
