Roadwork: Who benefits from the asphalt race?
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Residents in Helsinki are frustrated by repeated, seemingly unnecessary road asphalt work.
- The author questions how the city allows continuous road repairs, citing environmental strategy conflicts.
- A call for transparency is made regarding who benefits from this recurring
Helsinki residents are experiencing a recurring cycle of road asphalt work that is causing significant frustration. The author, who previously lived in the Haaga district for a decade, recounts how the constant tearing up and repaving of streets became a running joke. This pattern has continued in their new neighborhood in Myllynpuro, where fiber optic cable installation led to repeated asphalt work, even after a competing firm opened the same stretch of road again.
We are tired of the constant tearing up of street asphalt, which we have had to watch from our kitchen window.
The author criticizes the city of Helsinki for allowing this practice, which they argue contradicts its own strategies for ecological sustainability, emissions reduction, and climate change mitigation. They dismiss explanations about sequential work phases and safety closures, stating that the asphalt is not even cool before it's ripped up again. This repeated disruption raises questions about resource waste and the efficiency of urban planning.
What a waste of resources! How can the city of Helsinki allow this?
The repeated roadwork is not only an environmental concern but also a significant nuisance to residents. The author expresses a strong desire to understand who profits from this continuous "asphalt race." The article highlights a disconnect between the city's stated environmental goals and the reality on the ground, leaving citizens questioning the logic and benefits of such persistent and disruptive infrastructure projects.
I demand to know whose pocket is being lined by the constant asphalt race.
Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.