Warsaw Ringroad

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided a loan of zl3.4bn (€800m) to Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) to build the Warsaw bypass and sections of an expressway in Western Poland.

A long-term loan of €550m will be used to build several sections of the S5 expressway from the A1 motorway near Grudziadz to Wroclaw via Bydgoszcz.

The 162.5km of the S5 expressway sections will be running between Nowe Marzy, Bydgoszcz and Mielno, and between Wronczyn and Radomicko.

The remaining €250m long-term loan will be used for the construction of the 18.6km southern section of the Warsaw bypass between Pulawska and Lubelska streets.

"This will strengthen the economic competitiveness of Poland and increase the quality of life of Polish citizens."

As part of this project, the EIB will also support the construction of a new bridge across the River Vistula, which will supplement the strained capacity provided by the eight existing road bridges.

EIB vice-president responsible for lending in Poland László Baranyay said: "EIB funds will help to eliminate bottlenecks and reduce travel time on these expressways by providing additional capacity and contributing to improved travel quality and safety.

"Ultimately, this will strengthen the economic competitiveness of Poland and increase the quality of life of Polish citizens."

Both the projects would help the passage of long-distance traffic around the Polish capital.

Designed to improve road safety and respect the natural environment, the projects will also see installation of acoustic screens, wildlife crossings, drainage and runoff treatment.

BGK president Dariusz Kacprzyk said: "BGK has provided professional services to the National Road Fund for 11 years now. To date, we have helped to provide a smooth financing for road projects worth nearly zl100bn (approximately €25bn).

"Part of the funding comes from foreign partners, such as the EIB with which BGK concluded the total of 29 loan agreements for the National Road Fund, including the today’s ones, with a value of €11.1bn."

Image: The 18.6km south-eastern quadrant of the Warsaw Ringroad. Photo: © GDDKiA/ European Investment Bank.