Road freight traffic across the eastern border has grown so quickly that the national Road Administration can't keep up. A special lane for lorries was supposed to be extended during the spring, but the project has taken longer than planned. Work has only now started and will not be finished until November.
A hastily constructed temporary holding area for lorries close by the Vaalimaa crossing point has not helped shorten queues. Drivers have problems finding it and there are not enough police available to direct traffic to it.
A permanent parking area will not be easing the situation any time soon. A holding area for 1000 lorries at Vaalimaa will not be ready for three years and one for 500 lorries at Nuijamaa has been delayed indefinitely for lack of funding.
Right now, the only way to ease the queues and delays would be full-time traffic directors.
It is feared that the congestion caused by long lines of heavy freight lorries will become an increasing safety risk to local residents using the same roads.