Kiertoliittymässä

Kiertoliittymässä is a small neighbourhood located in the western district of Helsinki, Finland. The area is defined by its close proximity to the main ring road (Kiertoliittymä) that connects major highways such as the Munkkivuori road and the southern periphery roads. The name “Kiertoliittymässä” literally means “in the ring road” and reflects the significance of the traffic junction to the identity of the community.

Historically the site began as a transit corridor during the 1960s when Helsinki’s urban expansion required greater connectivity between the north–south and east–west axes. The construction of the Kiertoliittymä ramp in 1965 created a direct link between Highway 3 and Highway 5, and the surrounding area developed slowly as a residential pocket to accommodate workers employed in the nearby industrial zone and service businesses. The original housing stock consists mostly of post-World War II prefabricated cottages that were later replaced in the 1980s by terraced housing of similar size.

In recent years Kiertoliittymässä has become a mixed-use neighbourhood, with a small commercial area consisting of convenience stores, a bakery and a service centre, while the remaining residential buildings are predominantly owner‑occupied. Local authorities view the area as a candidate for further densification to accommodate the growing population of the Greater Helsinki region. Public transport access is provided by several City Bus lines that stop near the ring road intersection, and cyclists can use the adjacent bike-lane network that leads to the waterfront along the sea road. The neighbourhood is under the jurisdiction of the City of Helsinki’s western district and is represented in the municipal council by the local Residents’ Association.