Finnish agency commissions study for fixed connection between Vaasa and Umeå

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Väylävirasto) has commissioned planning and consulting firm WSP to explore the feasibility of establishing a fixed connection between Vaasa, Finland, and Umeå, Sweden. The study will assess transportation forecasts and evaluate the project’s potential impacts. Additionally, the feasibility study will investigate the connectivity’s construction viability, maritime operational conditions, environmental effects, and sustainability. Possible synergies between electricity and hydrogen transport networks will also be examined.

This initiative is based on a mandate from the government program that calls for an exploration of a fixed connection across the Gulf of Bothnia. Joakim Strand, the Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering in Vaasa, envisions that the outcome could comprise various components, including a tunnel option. “I don’t see it as impossible that a tunnel could be part of this,” he stated, emphasizing that the overall structure is likely to include multiple segments.

Strand mentioned that the broader perspective relates to how this connection would enhance Finland’s international logistics integration. Currently, the journey between Umeå and Vaasa covers approximately 100 kilometers, with the shortest distance between the coasts being around 80 kilometers, typically serviced by a ferry, which takes about 3.5 to 4 hours.

The undertaking presents significant technical challenges, with the Gulf featuring both shallow and deep areas. Marine routes must remain operable, and the region’s ecological sensitivities, including extensive conservation zones, must be considered. WSP’s project manager, Risto Jounila, stressed the importance of creating a realistic basis for the project despite it being in its early stages.

Cost estimates and timelines will be clarified later, and a comprehensive international expert team from Finland, Sweden, and Canada has been assembled for the study. The findings are anticipated to be complete by spring 2025.