A new express road in the Pomorskie region is being built in northern Poland for faster and safer transport. The project consists of construction of a 40.85 km-long road with two lanes in each direction, between the town of Bożepole Wielkie just north of the existing S6 express road, and the Tri-City metropolitan area – Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot – where the S6 already curves down from the north-west. The new road is a more direct route than the existing express road, relieving congestion, saving drivers time and taking traffic away from rural roads already used as short cuts.
New express road improves traffic flow near Pomorskie’s Tri-City in northern Poland
- 04 July 2019
Eight junctions are being built for the road, for improved connections to districts along its route, as well as viaducts, footbridges, underpasses, culverts and other structures. To minimise environmental impacts, the project is adding noise barriers, animal crossings and water drainage along the road.
People in the region served by the road will benefit from the better connection with the Tri-City area, along with reduced noise, traffic and air pollution on local roads. The road improves the long-distance road network in Europe, benefiting trade, tourism and growth.
Capacity for traffic demand
The Tri-City, located along the shores of the Baltic Sea and Gdansk Bay in northern Poland, has a population of over 1 million people. It is a relatively wealthy area in Poland and an important centre of education, with 20 universities in Gdansk and Gdynia. It is an important cultural and leisure centre, with many cinemas, theatres, opera, sporting venues and foreign representations.
As such, the area generates large amounts of traffic. The new express road improves conditions for drivers by relieving pressure on the northern S6 section between Bożepole Wielkie and Tri-City, and cutting the journey by up to 20 km. It reduces bottlenecks on roads around both express roads – either as a new route or by reducing traffic on the older route. For longer journeys it provides a more direct link to the major northern city of Szczecin on Poland’s border with Germany at the western end of the S6, and adds to the Polish part of Europe’s TEN-T transport network.
Supporting growth
People living around the planned road can look forward to safer local traffic as this modern new road directs vehicles away from small local roads and settlements currently used as a quick route to the Tri-City. Inhabitants near the northern S6 sections – especially arounds large towns – can also look forward to an improved environment as traffic decreases.
Businesses and workers benefit from the more efficient link, and the increased capacity for people and goods to travel to and from businesses. By increasing opportunities for business, work and leisure, the road promotes economic and social cohesion within the local area and in Europe.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Construction of the express road S6 Słupsk - Gdańsk, section Bożepole Wielkie – the beginning of the Tri-City bypass” is EUR 393 506 654, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 234 136 459 through the “Infrastructure and Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Transport and energy networks”.