An EU-funded project is constructing a modern expressway section of the S7 roadway that will better connect Poland’s Warmińsko-Mazurskie region and increase business, investment and tourism.
- 05 October 2017
The project involves the construction of approximately 39 km of new dual carriageway road between Miłomłyn-Olsztynek and a 6 km stretch at the Ostróda bypass, with both sections being part of Poland’s new S7 expressway.
The project is located in Warmińsko-Mazurskie region, where the road sections run through the municipalities of Miłomłyn, Ostróda and Olsztynek.
A modern express road
In addition to the construction of the two sections of road, the project is also building all the necessary technical infrastructure and traffic safety facilities. Infrastructure components include five junctions (at Miłomłyn Południe, Miłomłyn Północ, Ostróda Północ, Ostróda Południe and Rychnowo) and a number of viaducts, bridges and culverts. To ensure the road does not interfere with local wildlife migratory patterns, several animal bridges are also planned.
Both sections of road are part of Poland’s new S7 express road. When complete, the S7 will be a key road within the country’s transportation network, running from Gdańsk on the Baltic coast through Elblag, Warsaw, Radom, Kielce and Krakow, finishing at the Slovakian/Polish border in Rabka. Most of the work involves upgrading the existing National Road 7 (DK 7) from two lanes to four and adding such expressway amenities as interchanges, bridges and overpasses. The total length of the S7 is 720 km.
Connecting a region
The new S7 express road is a crucial component in Poland’s plans to modernise its transport network. Specifically, it will improve the key road connections running between Warsaw and the country’s regions. It will also provide better connection to the Baltic countries and their economic markets.
This connection is especially important to the economic development of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie region, where this project’s work is focused. With the new S7 in place, the region will be more accessible to new business and investment opportunities, which in turn will create new jobs.
Regional tourism is also expected to reap the rewards of the S7. With the road creating better accessibility to border crossings, tourists from neighbouring countries will find it easier to come and enjoy the Warmińsko-Mazurskie region’s pristine landscapes of lakes and forests. In addition to its many natural attractions, the region is also home to a handful of important historical sites, including the Mazurski Canal, an array of fortresses and castles built by the Medieval Teutonic Order, and such World War II sites as German bunkers.
Viewed from an EU-perspective, this project, and the S7 in general, are part of the EU’s Baltic-Adriatic TEN-T Core Network Corridor – a network of local, national and regional roads connecting the Adriatic with the Baltic states that aims to improve European connectivity and boost trade and tourism. Overall, the TEN-T network aims to adjust the technical and operational parameters of Europe’s roads to better serve forecasted traffic levels. To accomplish this, road construction projects focus on eliminating traffic bottlenecks and completing missing sections in the road network.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Construction of S7 express road: section Miłomłyn – Olsztynek” is EUR 540 409 071, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 283 961 450 through the “Infrastructure and Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Development of TEN-T road network and multimodal transport”.