In this project, the construction company is Sito and the main contractor is Työyhteenliittymä Aleksanteri, whose shareholder companies are EKT infra Oy and Läänin Kuljetus Oy. The project extends over an area of 12,000 square metres.

 

Planning and installation service

For Uponor, the project began in July 2016. Uponor and its partners were responsible for installing frame pipes as well as for planning the snow melting system. A total of 330 metres of Ecoflex Thermo Single 125/250 pipes, which are intended for large power transfers, were delivered to the site. In the snow melting system, heat is supplied to the pipes from a house by the street and is then distributed to five wells through the Thermo Single pipes. Hot water leaves the wells from the Uponor Magna manifolds and then flows evenly through the pipes to pavements and zebra crossings. The pipes of the snow melting system are made from PEX material, which prevents oxygen diffusion. The rain and temperature sensors installed on the road surface are used to make sure that the snow melting system functions as planned.

 

Minimal disruption to traffic

Aleksanterinkatu is the most lively pedestrian area in Lahti, with local buses running up and down all the time. A special requirement was that construction in the area had to be carried out in stages to prevent excessive disruption to road and pedestrian traffic. Site Manager Santtu Vesterinen from EKT Infra Oy thanks everyone for the cooperation.

- Several parties are involved in the project, and everybody's interests must be taken into account. For example, efforts have been made to find functional solutions together with property owners and tenants in order to prevent excessive disruption to local business. Cooperation has worked well.

- Installations are mainly carried out in the evening to minimise disruption to traffic. Furthermore, the lanes for motor traffic are moved as the work progresses, says Ari Sahanen from Uponor.

A lot of planning had to be done during work.
- Issues have arisen that have caught us by surprise, but we have always been able to find a solution together. We are within schedule, and the project in the centre of Lahti will be completed in November as planned, emphasises Jani Lepistö from Sito Lahti.