National Independence Day Parade causes traffic arrangements in central Kuopio

The Independence Day parade and its preparations require traffic arrangements in Kuopio city centre on 5-6 December 2017.

Preparations for the parade will begin on Tuesday 5 December from 3 pm on Kuopio market square and its vicinity, at Keskuskenttä football stadium and its neighbouring areas and in the parking areas of Puijo ski stadium and Puijo pesis stadium. The said areas will be subject to parking, traffic and access restrictions.

Furthermore, military units and military vehicles participating in the parade may slow down other traffic whilst moving in central Kuopio.

Temporary parking bans

Temporary parking bans will be placed on the following street sections or areas:

6 December 2017 between 8 am and 4 pm

• Tulliportinkatu, the section between Kasarminkatu and Maaherrankatu
• Kaartokatu, the section between Kumpukatu and Raviradantie
• Raviradantie, both sides of the street
• Kasarminkatu, both sides of the street

Additional temporary parking bans will be placed as follows:

• Suokatu-Haapaniemenkatu intersection, 2/5 parking spaces, 5-6 December
• Suokatu-Puijonkatu intersection, 2/5 parking spaces, 5-6 December
• Suokatu-Vuorikatu intersection, 3 parking spaces on Suokatu, 5-6 December
• The local bus lines passing through central Kuopio are rerouted to Maljalahdenkatu for 5-6 December and will stop on the timing stops on that street.
• Koljonniemenkatu, the section between Hallikatu and Haapaniemenkatu, 5-6 December
• Vuorikatu, the section between Kauppakatu and Suokatu, from 4 pm on 5 December to 6 am on 7 December

Restrictions on use of parking areas

The following areas will be reserved entirely for parade arrangements and parking of vehicles and equipment:

• Parking area at Puijo ski stadium, from 8 am on 5 December to 12 pm on 6 December
• Parking area at Valtuustotalo, 8 am - 4 pm on 6 December
• Open area near Kuopio bus station, 6 December
• Parking area at Kuopio Music Centre, 6 am - 4 pm on 6 December
• Parking area at Keskuskenttä football stadium, from 8 am on 5 December to 4 pm on 6 December
• Sand field at Kuopiolahti, from 8 am on 5 December to 4 pm on 6 December

Any vehicles parked without authorisation on areas subject to parade-related parking bans will be removed at the owner's expense.

These parking area restrictions will be removed by 12 pm on 6 December.

Bus traffic in Kuopio city centre

Tulliportinkatu will be closed to general traffic on the section between Haapaniemenkatu and Puijonkatu from 5 pm on 5 December 2017. Bus traffic will return to its regular routes on 7 December 2017.

• The local bus lines passing through central Kuopio are rerouted to Maljalahdenkatu for 5-6 December and will stop on the timing stops on that street.
• The bus stops for charter buses are relocated to Koljonniemenkatu in the section between Hallikatu and Haapaniemenkatu for 5–6 December.

Taxi traffic in Kuopio city centre

The taxi stands normally situated near the market square will be temporarily relocated to Vuorikatu in the section between Kauppakatu and Suokatu from 4 pm on 5 December to 6 am on 7 December.

Access restrictions on Kuopio market square

The equipment display associated with the parade will be built at the northern end of the market square. The display area will be fenced off during the preparation. Access to the area will be restricted from 3 pm on Tuesday 5 December. The Finnish Defence Forces will temporarily assume control of the market square. The area will be guarded.

The market square can again be accessed without restrictions on Wednesday 6 December, after the equipment display has been taken down.

Keskuskenttä football stadium

Access to the area of Keskuskenttä football stadium will be restricted due to arrangements relating to the review of troops from 3 pm on Tuesday 5 December. The area will be guarded.

The parking area at Keskuskenttä will not be available for normal use on Wednesday 6 December. It will be available as usual after the parade-related set-up has been taken down.

Puijo ski stadium and Puijo pesis stadium

The parking areas of both stadiums will be reserved for the parade troops from 6 am on Wednesday 6 December. Access to these parking areas will be restricted during the parade day. They will be available as usual after the parade-related set-up has been taken down.

Street sections to be completely closed to traffic

During the actual parade on 6 December 2017, Tulliportinkatu will be closed to traffic on the section between Kasarmikatu and Maaherrankatu from 10 am. After the parade, Tulliportinkatu will be reopened to traffic, apart from the section between Haapaniemenkatu and Puijonkatu.

After the review of troops on Keskuskenttä, the troops participating in the pass-in review will march along the following route:

• Keskuskenttä – Kaartokatu – Raviradantie – Kasarmikatu – Tulliportinkatu, continuing to Kuopio Music Centre along the route Tulliportinkatu – Kuninkaankatu – Kuopionlahdenkatu.

During the pass-in review, the said street sections will be closed to other traffic between 12 am and 2 pm.

The motorised units will leave Puijo ski stadium and Puijo pesis stadium to head for the city centre along Karjalankatu and arrange for the pass-in review on Karjalankatu and Puistokatu.

Karjalankatu will be closed to general traffic on the section between Opistotie and the intersection of Tulliportinkatu between 12 am and 2 pm on 6 December.

After the pass-in review, the motorised units will leave the area along the route Tulliportinkatu – Maaherrankatu – Puutarhakatu –Puijonkatu. When the motorised units are moving, the said street sections will be closed to other traffic between 1 pm and 2.30 pm.

No-fly zone

During the review of troops and the pass-in review, the entire area above Kuopio city centre will be a no-fly zone.

For further information on the Independence Day parade, please contact Major Mika Saastamoinen, Public Information Secretary Risto Hyvärinen or Captain Marko Räsänen at Karelia Air Command (Defence Forces switchboard tel. +358 (0)299 800).

Inquiries concerning traffic arrangements in central Kuopio on and around Independence Day should be directed to Maintenance Manager Juho Pelkonen, City of Kuopio, tel. +358 (0)44 718 5674.