A new local road made of cement concrete is taking shape in Ożarów, Świętokrzyskie province, as Poland gradually expands its still modest network of concrete-surfaced municipal and regional roads. The 1.3-kilometre stretch, designed for heavy traffic and built with a low-carbon cement mix, is expected to open by November 2026.
The investment, launched in 2025, covers a 1,300-metre section of which about 1,200 metres will consist of cement concrete pavement. The roadway will be seven metres wide, formed by two 3.5-metre lanes, and the 23-centimetre-thick concrete layer is made of C30/37 grade material. The road is classified under KR4 traffic category, meaning it must withstand high axle loads and intensive daily use.
A 50-metre trial section was laid on 19 March 2026, and subsequent tests confirmed that all design parameters regarding technical performance and durability have been met. Full-scale paving began in late May 2026. The entire project, which includes a connection to national road No. 79, is scheduled for completion in November.
Thirty percent less CO2 from the start
The concrete used in Ożarów stands out for its reduced environmental impact. According to the project documentation, the applied cement technology cuts carbon dioxide emissions by more than 30 percent compared to conventional cements with a higher clinker content. The cement is supplied by Cement Ożarów, part of the international CRH group, while the contractor is Wod-Bud.
For the local government road network – which totals over 410,000 kilometres of voivodeship, powiat and gmina roads – concrete surfaces remain a rarity. Only about 2,000 kilometres, or roughly 0.5 percent, are made of concrete. The Cement Producers Association estimates that around 150 kilometres of new concrete local roads are added each year.
Concrete dominance on expressways
The picture changes dramatically on Poland’s high-speed network. By the end of 2025, the country had more than 1,206 kilometres of expressways and motorways with concrete pavements, accounting for 22 percent of all fast-road infrastructure. Further concrete sections are currently under construction.
Cement Ożarów, which has been owned by the Irish-Dutch CRH group since 1995, employs over 2,200 people in Poland. The group is one of the world’s leading building materials companies and has been steadily expanding its low-carbon product portfolio.
Source: WNP.PL, Fot. Cement Ożarów
