After more than a decade in the making, Helsinki’s Kruunuvuori Bridge has officially opened, and it’s unlike almost anything else built at this scale. Designed by engineering firm WSP Finland and London-based Knight Architects, the 1,191-metre crossing is now Finland’s longest and tallest bridge, and one of the longest in the world, built exclusively for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport. There’s not a car lane in sight.
The story begins in 2012, when the City of Helsinki launched an international design competition titled “Kruunusillat” or “Crown Bridges.” Out of 52 entries, the WSP and Knight Architects collaboration, under the project name Gemma Regalis, emerged as the winner in 2013. Thirteen years later, that vision is now a physical reality, reshaping the way Helsinki’s inner city is experienced.
Designer: WSP & Knight Architects
The bridge links the waterside residential area of Kruunuvuorenranta to the Nihti district via Korkeasaari island, pulling thousands of residents meaningfully closer to the city centre. Its defining feature is a slender, 135-metre-tall concrete diamond pylon at its centre, flanked by two 260-metre cable-stayed spans. When illuminated, the pylon is visible from across the city, its facade lighting shifting with the time of day and the season, a deliberate addition to Helsinki’s skyline.
The design team’s priorities went well beyond engineering. WSP lead designer Sami Niemelä noted that the team considered “pedestrian and cyclist safety, a comfortable travel experience, and barrier-free accessibility” from the outset. The bridge’s gentle curve was an intentional choice — a winding path lets users visually track where they’re headed, making the crossing feel more intuitive. Lighting was carefully calibrated to minimise light pollution while still ensuring safety after dark, directing light precisely onto walking and cycling surfaces without excessive glare.
Finnish winters were also factored into the structure. The steel cables were engineered with solutions to prevent snow and ice accumulation, a non-negotiable in this climate. With a design life of 200 years, this is a bridge built to outlast generations. The bridge opened to pedestrians and cyclists on April 18, 2026, with more than 50,000 visitors crossing it during the opening weekend alone.
Construction was carried out by YIT and Kreate under the TYL Kruunusillat consortium, with Knight Architects involved from the earliest concept sketches all the way through to completion. The next chapter begins in early 2027, when tram services are scheduled to activate across the bridge, the final piece in making this crossing a fully operational transit corridor for Helsinki.
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