Accessibility, quality and connectivity of transport infrastructure at Ełk in Poland's Warmińsko-Mazurskie region has been improved by construction of a ring road around the city. This has helped to alleviate major transport problems in Ełk and the surrounding area which were exacerbated by the lack of a bypass.
- 08 July 2015
Construction of stage III and IV of the Ełk ring road completed stage I and II carried out earlier by the city. The result is the complete ring road around the city which transfers the entire transit traffic out of Ełk, thus improving the safety and smoothness of traffic flows within the city.
The new section of road is 4.76 km long and forms part of national routes 16 and 65. It was built with road safety infrastructure and in accordance with the parameters of a high-speed trunk road.
The road was connected with the existing road network by construction of junctions and lighting was installed at the junctions. Other structures built within the project include flyovers, a bridge and an underpass.
The project also entailed construction of access roads and reconstruction of technical infrastructure networks and installations affected by the new road. In addition, environmental protection systems were installed such as storm water drainage and pre-treatment systems, including infiltration and treatment tanks, wildlife crossings and noise barriers.
Greater economic competitiveness
As a result, the area has become more internally cohesive and economically attractive. This has led to an increase in the competitiveness of Ełk, the Warmińsko-Mazurskie region and indirectly, the whole of eastern Poland.
Transport connections within the region and with national and international road networks are better and main regional centres are more accessible. Traffic now flows more smoothly within the city and on main regional and national roads.
In 2008, before the ring road opened, there were 26 traffic accidents in Ełk, with 28 people injured. By 2013, after the road's opening, these figures had dropped to 9 and 11, respectively. It is calculated that shorter journey times and reduced vehicle maintenance costs resulting from the ring road have led to savings in passenger and freight transport worth over EUR 10 million a year.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Ełk ring road” is EUR 36 635 392, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 27 388 734 from the Operational Programme “Development of Eastern Poland” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.