Lemström canal
Some information about the Lemström Canal with its bridge might be needed when planning your sailing trip in Åland. Lemström Canal was built in 1882 in order to connect the sea inlet east of Mariehamn to Lumparn which is a popular sea route.
Opening hours of the bridge
There is a bridge over the canal with a vertical clearance of 3.3 meters. During the peak season the bridge is opened for boats every even hour daytime according to the following schedule.
Opening hours 2025
The canal will be open for boat traffic for vessels that can pass under the bridge without opening it starting from May 1, 2025. The canal will be completely closed to boat traffic from January 1, 2025, to April 30, 2025, due to the renovation of the Lemström Bridge.
Regular opening hours for the bridge:
June 5–August 10: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
August 11–September 7: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
September 12–September 14: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
September 19–September 21: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
September 26–September 28: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
During bridge openings, it is important to be on time! The bridge opens as needed only once per hour. For the bridge to open, the vessel must be at the canal before the scheduled opening time. Before the bridge's daily closing times at 10:00 PM, the bridge will open as needed approximately 10 minutes before the closing time.
Additional opening hours - Free of charge
The bridge can also be opened outside regular opening hours on weekdays from June 5, 2025, to November 30, 2025, by agreement with the bridge ward.
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Contact the bridge ward at least two (2) hours in advance by phone at +358 18 33731. Bridge openings always occur on the hour. Please refer to the routines for regular openings listed above.
Additional opening hours - For extra fee
Bridge openings outside the times listed above can be booked from June 5, 2025, until the canal freezes, every day between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., at a cost of €90 per opening.
Openings take place on the hour, following the same system as regular opening hours. Contact the canal guard by telephone at +358 18 33731 at least twelve (12) hours in advance of your desired passage. Other procedures for bridge openings are the same as those for regular opening hours and are listed above.
For more information contact the Channel guard by Phone +358 18 33731.
Good to know
- There are traffic lights and information about the bridge opening at the entrance to the canal.
- Your boat’s mast height may not exceed 3.3 m in order to drive through without a bridge opening.
- Max. speed in the area is 9 km/h.
- The channel is 350 meters long.
