The new industrial park will be accessible by train tracks , as well as by new roadways .
“ To the north of the park area , the existing road junction will be rebuilt . A whole new road leading to the area will be built on the north-east side ,” Mr . Matikka recounts .
“ On the southern and northern sides , storage terminal areas for both incoming and outgoing shipments have been designated .”
Mr . Matikka estimates that the Blue Industry Park may eventually house well over 100 companies and provide employment for 10 000 people . It will also bring versatile services and corporate synergy to this part of the city .
“ Turku shipyard will need workspace and accommodation for the subcontractor companies . Temporary workshops , restaurants and logistics services will also be required .”
Already , first stages of road-building and excavation work has been started in the Blue Industry Park area . Construction of new buildings is also starting .
According to the preliminary timetable , the first workshop buildings might be built on the northern side of the park area around 2020 , once the excavation work is completed . Later on , construction of a new wharf is anticipated , perhaps by 2030 .
Another city in south-west Finland , Rauma , also has a marine industrial park that is already in operation .
“ In Turku , the situation is different as we are starting from scratch . The city of Rauma had existing workshop buildings
that could be converted to an industrial park ,” explains Matikka .
STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE
According to Mr . Petri Liski , Manager of Real Estate Development Services for City of Turku , the Blue Industry Park initiative is a highly strategic one .
“ The Meyer Turku shipyard is now fully booked for work until the end of 2024 . This will mean a positive structural change for the entire region : more housing and infrastructure will be needed ,” he notes .
“ In addition to the shipbuilding industry , there are clusters of automotive and medical industries in the vicinity – but perhaps the subcontractors for the marine and also mining industries will need the new industrial park more urgently .”
“
It is difficult to say when the park will be quite finished .
The first residents are expected to move in to Blue Industry Park in late 2018 .
38 seatec 2 / 2018