Kaupungin suomenkielinen tiedote / In Finnish
On November 17, the Central Finland Rescue Department closed the Louhunsalmi Bridge to vehicle traffic between Säynätsalo and Lehtisaari after receiving information that a tensioned cable on the bridge had broken. However, there is no immediate risk of the bridge collapsing.
Investigations and the preparation of a repair plan will take time, so traffic restrictions on the bridge will remain in place until late summer 2025. A completely new reinforcement structure is being designed to repair the bridge, as replacing the existing cables with new ones is not safe or technically feasible.
Construction work is expected to begin in April 2025. Preliminary groundwork for the planning process will be conducted during the winter before the main construction phase begins. The repairs are scheduled to be completed by late summer 2025, at which point the restrictions due to the cable damage will be lifted.
The bridge may need to be closed in strong winds. Closure times will be announced separately.
Crossing the Bridge
Pedestrians, cyclists, and moped riders can cross the Louhunsalmi Bridge using the pedestrian and bicycle path. A protective structure has been built along the road edge near the broken cable. Moped riders are directed to use the pedestrian and bicycle path. When approaching from Lehtisaari, the detour starts near Löylytien.
Restrictions:
ATVs and other open-top vehicles are not allowed to cross the bridge.
Moped riders must be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists and drive at a moderate speed.
The bridge has traffic lights. A 50-meter distance must be maintained from the vehicle ahead. Yellow-red reflective panels help in maintaining this distance.
Only enclosed vehicles are allowed on the roadway (no mopeds or ATVs).
The speed limit is 30 km/h.
The weight limit of 3,500 kg remains in effect.
Drivers must stop close to the traffic lights for the system to detect them. If traffic controllers are present, their instructions take precedence over traffic lights.
Traffic restrictions will remain in place until late summer 2025.
The additional anchor cables are highly susceptible to damage. The impact of weight and speed may not be immediate but accumulates over time, potentially leading to further cable failures. Such damage could cause prolonged traffic disruptions and significantly increase repair costs. The city urges strict adherence to all traffic instructions.
Public Transport
Bus services to Lehtisaari and Muuratsalo are currently suspended.
Säynätsalo-bound Linkki bus services (routes 16 and 16M) operate according to their regular schedules but do not serve Muuratsalo or Lehtisaari.
The temporary terminal stop is SS Säynätsalo 2, with departures toward Jyväskylä from SS Säynätsalo 1.
Real-time schedules can be checked via the Linkki route planner.
To assist residents, a shuttle taxi service is available for transport across the bridge to the nearest bus stops. The shuttle follows the same route as the former bus service in Lehtisaari and Muuratsalo.
Further details on the shuttle schedules and routes can be found in Linkki’s announcements.
The local taxi company in Säynätsalo operates in the area with both passenger cars and minivans
Transportation must be booked in advance
Departure and return from Säynätsalo Town Hall.
The price for a round-trip transport of up to 20 people is 140 € (two group transports).
You can also ask about individual transport.
Reservations: Jyväskylän Taksiautot (FI)
taksiautot.com tel. +358 30 030 9900
Traffic Management
Traffic on the bridge is monitored via surveillance cameras, and traffic lights are in operation. If traffic lights malfunction, standard traffic regulations as indicated by road signs must be followed.
For urgent fault reports, call 0800 911 99. For non-urgent issues, reports can be submitted via the feedback channel.
In the event of a bridge closure, traffic controllers will be deployed to ensure emergency vehicles and residents in distress can cross safely.
