The 1960s were a boom time for Helsinki, Finland’s capital and largest city. Rising incomes in the post-war period enabled an increasing number of the population to afford a car. The number of registered vehicles in the city has tripled in just seven years. Inevitably, stalemate followed.
To manage traffic and shape its future, the City of Helsinki commissioned a transportation master plan, co-authored by the American firm Wilbur Smith & Co. and the Finnish company Pentti Pulvinen K. In 1968, consultants presented their astonishing proposal: nearly 200 miles of new highways in the Helsinki area, with much of the city center flattened to create space for high-speed highways. The city’s existing tram system will be cancelled.
