In Tikkurila, Vantaa, the construction of a new tram line has led to considerable upheaval, significantly impacting local enterprises. With one of the main roads, Kielotie, closed off and traffic redirected, both vehicular and pedestrian access has become chaotic, causing a decrease in foot traffic that many local businesses depend on. This disruption has prompted some establishments to alter their operating hours, reflecting a drop in customer numbers.

Among the affected is a popular café and lunch restaurant, which reports about a 20% reduction in lunchtime visitors. The owner, Karina Paakki, attributes this decline to the inconvenience posed by the rerouted traffic and the lack of nearby office workers whose usual routes have been significantly affected. While they have had to cut evening shifts since autumn due to the lower patronage, the café has benefited from catering services, which provided a necessary revenue stream amidst the downturn.

Another local business, restaurant Punto & Pasta, has experienced an even steeper decline of over 30% in sales since the tram work began. This severe drop has forced the owners to implement temporary layoffs, with staff now working reduced hours. Overall, the economic impact of the tram construction is being felt broadly across Tikkurila’s business landscape, highlighting the challenges that local entrepreneurs face during infrastructural developments.