Poland has signed the first of four contracts to expand the A2 motorway between Lodz and Warsaw. The agreement between the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) and Strabag covers a 17-kilometer stretch from the Grodzisk Mazowiecki junction to the Konotopa junction, with a cost of nearly 257 million PLN. Once upgraded, this section will become the first motorway in the country to be energetically self-sufficient, powered entirely by renewable energy sources.
The decision to widen the A2 comes as traffic volumes continue to rise. According to last year’s general traffic measurement, between 60,000 and 110,000 vehicles use this road daily, with the Pruszkow-Konotopa section exceeding 110,000 vehicles per day. The capacity is nearing its limit, and additional pressure is expected from the planned Central Communication Port (CPK) airport.
The expansion will provide three lanes in each direction between the Lodz Polnoc and Pruszkow junctions, and four lanes further to Konotopa. The reserve land in the median strip and adapted engineering structures were already prepared during the original design and construction. At the Lodz Polnoc junction, where A1 and A2 cross, only the pavement will be replaced and energy-efficient lighting installed, as three lanes already exist there.
Self-sufficient motorway sets a national benchmark
Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak emphasized the significance of the project. – This expansion is a breakthrough on a national scale. We are finally eliminating the bottleneck of the entire east-west corridor, restoring normal traffic flow. Both drivers and transport companies have been waiting for this investment – he said.
The upgraded section will be the first in Poland to operate independently of the external power grid. All road equipment, including lighting and weather stations, will be powered by renewable energy and supported by energy storage systems. GDDKiA has announced that this solution will serve as a model for future road investments across the country.
Construction under heavy traffic with speed enforcement
GDDKiA officials describe the A2 expansion as one of the most difficult and complex road investments in recent years. Work will be carried out while maintaining traffic, with two lanes available in each direction throughout the construction period. To ensure safety, an average speed section enforcement system will be introduced – a measure that proved highly effective during the A1 motorway construction between Tuszyn and Czestochowa.
Additionally, the contractor is required to implement and maintain temporary traffic organization on all four sections between Lodz and Warsaw. For the first four months, work will mainly take place outside the main road, with changes introduced on the motorway only after that period.
The remaining three contracts for the A2 expansion are expected to be signed by the end of summer. The total cost of the entire modernization is estimated at nearly 1.5 billion PLN. Once completed, the 92-kilometer route will be a showcase of modern, sustainable road infrastructure in Poland.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. Krzysztof Nalewajko / GDDKiA
