The northern bypass around Kraków, in Poland’s Małopolskie region, is under construction with support from EU funding. Part of the S52 express road, the bypass will be 11.48 km in length.
Kraków’s northern bypass under construction
- 16 March 2023
Kraków, the second biggest city in Poland, is currently surrounded by the A4 motorway to the west and south, and the S7 expressway to the east (part of which is under construction). To the west there is also a short section of the S52 expressway, but no expressway bypassing the city to the north. The current investment on S52 is to close the ring road around Kraków.
The bypass will be 11.48 km in length. It will begin at the Modlnica junction, where it will connect with an existing section of the S52, and it will end at the planned Kraków-Mistrzejowice junction connecting with the S7 express road section that is also being planned.
Access to the bypass will be ensured through three new junctions: Zielonki, Węgrzce, and Batowice, which will connect it with national, regional and local roads. These junctions will allow safe traffic flows and serve adjacent areas via a network of access routes.
Handling projected traffic flows
Design of the road takes account of projected traffic volumes. The bypass will be a dual carriageway with three 3.5 m-wide traffic lanes on both sides of a 5 m-wide central reservation. It will allow for travelling speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Bridges, viaducts and culverts, and passages for animals, and other environmental protection devices are being built, along with footpaths, cycle paths, slip roads, bus lay-bys and service lanes.
Sections of other roads crossing the route are being adapted to accommodate the bypass and enable traffic to across it. Road lighting is being installed as required, as is electricity, gas, water, sewerage and telecommunications infrastructure.
Noise barriers are being put in place, along with a traffic management system and safety features such as crash barriers, anti-glare shields and fences. Roadside greenery is being planted.
A drainage system with storm sewers and devices for the pre-treatment of rainwater flowing from the bypass into watercourses or collectors will be installed.
Greater accessibility
The investment will improve road connections in Poland by establishing new links to corridors within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). This will increase the accessibility of the Kraków urban area and relieve it of excessive traffic volumes, in addition to easing access to neighbouring regions and shortening journey times between cities.
The project is in line with the objectives and priorities of the 2014-2020 Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme. The bypass will constitute a supporting element of the TEN-T network and will contribute to the development of a coherent EU transport system and effective transport policies.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Construction of the Kraków northern bypass along the S52” is EUR 465 324 274, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 227 923 093 through the “Infrastructure and Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Urban road infrastructure”.