A notoriously bumpy stretch of the A1 motorway in southern Poland, long dubbed the „Danube waves” by frustrated drivers, is finally set for a major overhaul. The consortium of Colas Polska and Antex II is close to signing a contract for the repair of a 3-kilometre section near Piekary Śląskie, marking the first of 13 planned work packages. The General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) expects the agreement to be sealed by the end of June if no appeals are filed.
The problematic 16-kilometre segment between Pyrzowice and Piekary Śląskie has been plagued by surface deformations since it opened in 2012. The irregularities appeared while the road was still under warranty, leading to speed restrictions ranging from 80 to 110 km/h. Despite repeated complaints to the original contractor, the condition only worsened over time, forcing the authorities to plan a comprehensive repair.
Long-awaited repair finally moving forward
The tender for the first repair stage was announced in October 2025, attracting eight bidders. All offers remained within GDDKiA’s budget, with the cheapest bid of 36.37 million PLN gross submitted by the Colas Polska-Antex II consortium. The winning contractor will be given 11 months to complete the work, excluding the winter break from December 16 to March 15.
During the repair, the existing pavement structure, frost-protection layer, and the upper part of the road embankment will be removed. The new surface will be built using bituminous technology with an anti-slip layer of uniform sand, a waterproof geomembrane, and a geotextile-reinforced aggregate mattress. GDDKiA explained that this technology is designed to prevent rainwater and meltwater from penetrating the road body.
30-year durability and traffic continuity
The scope of work includes replacing the drainage system, reconstructing stormwater sewers, restoring curbs and inlets, and repairing noise barriers and two engineering structures: a viaduct on the motorway and a overpass with access roads. A culvert will also be renovated.
„The repair is intended to restore full load-bearing capacity and evenness of the carriageway, and to ensure the motorway’s operational durability for at least the next 30 years,” – stated GDDKiA.
Traffic will be maintained throughout the construction period. The contractor must prepare a temporary traffic organisation plan, which must keep the route open for drivers.
„You cannot look at it,” – said Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak during the European Economic Congress, referring to the damaged road.
The entire repair programme is divided into 13 independent tasks. Their order depends on the degree of damage, technical and logistical possibilities, as well as the ability to introduce optimal traffic management changes and secure funding.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. GDDKiA / Materiały prasowe
