The Turku Tramway Alliance has decided on a change in scope that will see the responsibility for the implementation of archaeological works become part of the alliance’s project content and the costs of archaeological works incorporated into the alliance’s target cost. The value of the change is approximately EUR 14 million, of which GRK’s share is approximately EUR 6.5 million. There is no change to the total cost estimate of the Turku tramway project.
The cost estimate for the first construction phase of the Turku Tramway Alliance for 2027–2028 is EUR 33.3 million, of which GRK’s share is approximately EUR 12 million. In addition, archaeological excavations will be carried out in the first phase, the cost of which is estimated at EUR 15.1 million. The decision to transfer the archaeological works from the client to the alliance’s project content increases GRK’s share of the construction of the first phase of the Turku tramway to approximately EUR 18.5 million.
The tramway will be implemented over two construction phases, and the total cost estimate for all of the project phases is EUR 465.2 million. The change in the arrangement concerning the implementation of the archaeological works has no impact on the overall cost estimate. The Tramway Alliance is responsible for the archaeological investigations. Archaeological service providers are responsible for carrying out the excavations.
Before the tramway can be built in the Old Turku area, a permit to interfere must be obtained and extensive archaeological investigations must then be carried out. In the Turku tramway project, efforts have been made to safeguard as much of the archaeological heritage as possible in order to preserve the cultural heritage of the city’s historical layers. The tram route runs through Finland’s oldest urban area, where the cultural layers are exceptionally well preserved. Turku is the only medieval city in Finland to have featured masonry buildings. The excavations will provide new information about Turku’s history.
“The archaeological excavations have been transferred into the project alliance’s responsibility and target cost to an exceptionally large extent. The aim is an implementation plan that minimises the need for archaeological excavations. Where excavation needs arise, the project’s schedule can also be better managed through the alliance’s resource planning,” says Jouko Viitala, Unit Director at GRK.
The archaeological works also include the recovery, analysis and conservation of findings before the area is developed for the tramway. For example, masonry buildings and structures will be conserved and protected in place.