Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency has suspended the preparation of the road connection from Oulunsalo to Hailuoto due to water permit-related appeal. On February 11, 2020, the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland granted the North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre a permit under the Water Act for the construction of embankments and two bridges from Riutunkari in Oulu to Huikku in Hailuoto. The North Ostrobothnia District Association of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation made an appeal against the Hailuoto road connection within the appeal period to the Vaasa Administrative Court.

The planning of the project has been a long and multi-stage process. Already at an earlier stage, the general plans and road plan for the project become legally valid. The environmental and nature surveys have been given priority in an exceptionally versatile and comprehensive manner in the planning. The planning phase involved the implementation of an environmental impact assessment (EIA), Natura assessments and, most recently, the water permit process, which also includes a monitoring programme for nature impacts. The Ministry of the Environment has concluded in its statement on the Natura assessment that the embankment road can be implemented in a manner that does not have a significant negative impact on the conservation objectives of Natura 2000 sites within the scope of the project.

The ELY Centre believes that the planning work and the reports produced are comprehensive and based on the best expertise. The project planning process has been interactive and all parties have been given the opportunity to participate.