Highways in Poland

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Current plans for a motorway (thick) and express road (thin) network in Poland
Polish motorway network. Legend of sections:
  completed
  under construction
  planned
Development of the motorway network in Poland since 1932. Legend of sections:
  completed
  under construction
  planned
Development of the motorway network in Poland

Polish public roads are grouped into four categories related to the republic's administrative division. Motorways and expressways are part of the national road network. Voivodeship roads are provincial-level roads administered by the individual governments of the voivodeships. Powiat and gmina roads are administered by county and municipal authorities. Poland has 412,264 km (256,169 mi) of public roads, of which 131,863 km (81,936 mi) are unsurfaced (2011):[1]

  • National roads: 18,801 km (11,682 mi), 1.9 km (1 mi) unsurfaced
  • Voivodeship roads: 28,476 km (17,694 mi), 63.2 km (39 mi) unsurfaced
  • Powiat roads: 127,743 km (79,376 mi), 11,379 km (7,071 mi) unsurfaced
  • Gmina roads: 237,244 km (147,417 mi), 120,419 km (74,825 mi) unsurfaced

As of early October 2015, there are 3,273.47 kilometres (2,034 mi) of motorways[2] (autostrady, singular - autostrada) and expressways[2] (drogi ekspresowe, singular - droga ekspresowa) in use.

Definitions of motorway according to Polish law[edit]

The law of 21 March 1985 law about the public roads, with later amendments, defines the motorways and expressways as follows:

  • A motorway is a public road with limited access which is designated for motor vehicles only, and is marked with at least two continuous lanes in each direction which are divided by a barrier. They have no one-level interchanges with all the intersecting roads with the land and water transport. They are equipped with roadside rest areas, which are intended only for users on the motorway.
  • An express road is a public road with limited access which is designated for motor vehicles only, and is marked with one or two continuous divided lanes in each direction. They have no one-level interchanges with all the intersecting roads with the land and water transport, with the exception of two-laned public roads. They are equipped with roadside rest areas, which are intended only for users on the expressway.

Technical parameters[edit]

The parameters of these roads roads are determined by the Ordinance of the Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy of 2 March 1999 - on technical parameters to be met by public roads and their location. Highways are different from expressways mainly in that they:

  1. can be a single carriageway
  2. can have more interchanges
  3. Sometimes have a junction in built-up areas
  4. Can be designed for lower speeds than a motorwayway
  5. Have narrower lanes (emergency lanes can be narrower, too)
  6. Expressways have narrower road width (with all structures beside it) than motorways have - 40 m instead of 60 m.

Motorways can have interchanges only with main roads. The spacing between nodes should not be less than 15 km, and within borders or near a big city or a group of cities not less than 5 km. In exceptional cases, if necessary for the functional traffic movement, it can be not less than 3 km, but only within or near a large city or in a group of cities.

Motorway must have emergency lanes.

Other parameters of the roads:

projected speed (km/h) 120 100 801
the width of the lane (m) 3,75 3,5
width of the emergency lane (m) 3,0 2,5
maximum length of a slope (turn in the tunnel) which don't limit sight 2000 1500
min. lenghth of a straight section between turns on the same side (m) 500 400 350
min. length of turns (m) 300 200 150
max. gradient of turn (proc.) 4 5 6

Notes: 1 – only inside or near borders of a big city

Maximum speeds allowed on highways[edit]

Max. speed (km/h)
Vehicle
Znak D9.svg
Motorway
Znak D7.svg
2-lane expressway
Znak D7.svg
1-lane expressway
  • private car
  • motorbike
  • van up to 3.5 t
140 120 100
  • bus meeting additional technical requirements
100 100 100
  • car with a trailer
  • motorbike with a trailer
  • van with a trailer with the total mass less than 3.5 t
  • trucks and vans heavier than 3.5 t (as well with a trailer)
  • signed vehicle carrying e. g. dangerous, fragile articles
  • bus (as well with a trailer)
80 80 80
  • vehicle with equipment in front of the driver farther than 1.5 m from the seat
60 60 60
  • motorbike (as well with a trailer) carrying the child younger than 7 y.o.
40 40 40
Not allowed on motorways: pedestrians, bikes, mopeds, agricultural vehicles (e. g. tractors and horse carriages). Minimal speed on motorways is 40 km/h unless there are any extraordinary circumstances (e.g. snow, ice or a car broken down). Roads are protected from animals crossing the road

List of Polish motorways and expressways[edit]

Znak D9.svg Motorways in Poland are identified by the letter A, followed by a number (e.g. A1). Under current plans, by 2022 three motorways will span the country, with two routes running along an east to west axis (A2 running centrally and A4 running southerly) and one motorway traversing a north to south axis (with A1 running centrally). In addition, three shorter motorway stretches (A6, A8, A18) complete the planned motorway network. The only complete motorway stretch is A8. All others are currently under construction or in various stages of planning. As of mid-October 2015, 1,550.75 km (963.59 mi) of motorways are in use.[2]

Znak D7.svg Expressways in Poland are limited-access roads, divided into either dual or single carriageways. Expressway on-ramp signs in Poland are marked by a white car inside a blue background, while numbered designations are white on a red background, with the letter S preceding the number. Major expressways (in various stages of use, construction, or planning) include S3, S5, S7, S11, S17 and S19 running north to south, and S6, S8, S10, S12 and S74, running east to west. As of mid-October 2015, 1,628.32 km (1,011.79 mi) of expressways are currently in use.[2]

Under the government of Prime Minister Marek Belka, the Council of Ministers regulations issued in May 2004 detailed plans for a network of motorways and expressways totaling to 7,200 km (4,473.87 mi) across the republic, including 1,989 km (1,240 mi) of designated motorways.[3] Now the planned expressway mileage due to new plans of expressway construction has risen to 7,748.8 km (4,814.88 mi) Further cabinet regulations under Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński published in February 2007 added S2 and S79 to the network, planned to facilitate high speed traffic in and out of Warsaw.[4] In October 2009, the cabinet under Donald Tusk supplemented plans for the construction of S61 to serve the northeastern region of the country to connect with Lithuania.[5] In Semptember 2015, S16 was announced as the government priority.[6]

The following table summarizes the planned motorway and expressway network with approximate lengths. As of early October 2015, 102.1 km (60 mi) of motorways and 605.63 km (380 mi) of expressways are in various stages of construction.[2][7][8][9]

A1 - A4 Gliwice-Sośnica Interchange
A4 near Zabrze
A2 (Berlin - Poznań), opened in 2003
A8 near Wrocław
A4 as the southern bypass of Krakow
Znak D9.svg
Motorways
Sign Course Total length Existing In realisation Tender Environmental decision (DŚU)
A1 Gdańsk (S6) – Gorzyczki (border with the Chech Republic) 565.1 km (351.14 mi) 391.45 km (243.24 mi) 69.271% 60.9 km (37.84 mi) approx. 31 km (19.26 mi) 81.75 km (50.80 mi)
A2 Świecko (border with Germany) – Kukuryki (border with Belarus) 622.6 km (386.87 mi) 475 km (295.15 mi) 76.29% 147.6 km (91.71 mi)
A4 Jędrzychowice (border with Germany) – Korczowa (border with Ukraine) 672 km (417.56 mi) 630.8 km (391.96 mi) 93.869% 41.2 km (25.60 mi)
A6 Kołbaskowo (border with Germany) – Rzęśnica (S3) 28.5 km (17.71 mi) 24.2 km (15.04 mi) 84.91% 4.3 km
A8 Bielany Wrocławskie (S8) – Wrocław (S8) 22.3 km (13.86 mi) 22.3 km (13.86 mi) 100%
A18 Olszyna (border with Germany) – Krzyżowa (A4) 78.5 km (48.78 mi) 7 km (4.35 mi);
71.5 km (44.43 mi) (north carriageway)
45.16% 71.5 km (44.43 mi)
(south carriageway)
In total 1,989 km (1,235.91 mi) 1,550.75 km (963.59 mi)+71.5 km (44.43 mi) 1st carriageway 79.7637% 102.1 km (63.44 mi) approx. 31 km (19.26 mi) 233.65 km (145.18 mi)+71.5 km (44.43 mi) north carriageway
Znak D7.svg
Expressways
Sign Course Total length Existing In realisation Tender Environmental decision (DŚU)
S1 Pyrzowice (A1) – Cieszyn (border with the Chech Republic) 121.4 km (75.43 mi) 70 km (43.50 mi)+9.72 km (6.04 mi) 1st carriageway 56.902% 7.75 km (4.82 mi)+9.72 km (6.04 mi) 2nd carriageway
S2 Konotopa (A2) – Nowy Konik (A2) 34.1 km (21.19 mi) 15.45 km (9.60 mi) 45.308% 18.65 km (11.59 mi)
S3 ŚwinoujścieLubawka (border with the Chech Republic) 478.2 km (297.14 mi) 238.6 km (148.26 mi)+62.8 km (39.02 mi) 1st carriageway 56.462% 97.3 km (60.46 mi)+34.7 km (21.56 mi) 2nd carriageway 19.73 km (12.26 mi) 2-carriageway+28.1 km (17.46 mi) 2nd-carriageway 59.18 km (36.77 mi)
S5 Grudziądz (A1) – Wrocław (A8) 367.7 km (228.48 mi) 71.4 km (44.37 mi) (of which ca. 12 km (7.46 mi) temporal)+16.7 km 1st carriageway 17.405% 82.03 km (50.97 mi) 226.71 km (140.87 mi)
S6 Goleniów (S3) – Gdańsk (A1) 354.4 km (220.21 mi) 9.4 km (5.84 mi)+15.2 km (9.44 mi) 1st carriageway+38 km (23.61 mi) temporal (till the Trojmiasto ring is built) 15.537% 57.8 km (35.92 mi) 234 km (145.40 mi)+15.2 km (9.44 mi) 2nd carriageway
S7 Gdańsk (A1) – Rabka-Zdrój 709 km (440.55 mi) 239.4 km (148.76 mi) 33.765% 151.8 km (94.32 mi) 217.6 km (135.21 mi)
S8 Wrocław (A8) – Białystok (S19) 569.8 km (354.06 mi) 404.9 km (251.59 mi) 71.06% 117.9 km (73.26 mi) 48.5 km (30.14 mi)
S10 Szczecin (A6) – Płońsk (S7) 459.8 km (285.71 mi) 23.6 km (14.66 mi)+24.5 km (15.22 mi) 1st carriageway 7.797% 17.8 km (11.06 mi) 7 km (4.35 mi) 2nd carriageway
S11 Koszalin (S6) – Pyrzowice (A1) 560.3 km (348.15 mi) 38.6 km (23.98 mi)+6.1 km (3.79 mi) 1st carriageway 7.434% 20.3 km (12.61 mi) 18.5 km (11.50 mi) 81.3 km (50.52 mi)+28.5 km (17.71 mi) 2nd carriageway
S12 Piotrków Trybunalski (A1) – Dorohusk-Jagodzin (border with Ukraine)) 319.7 km (198.65 mi)  74.6 km (46.35 mi)+8.5 km (5.28 mi) 1st carriageway 24.664% 11.8 km (7.33 mi)
S14 Western Łódź bypass (A2) – (S8) 40.1 km (24.92 mi) 13.4 km (8.33 mi) 33.416% 28.5 km (17.71 mi)
S16-PL.svg
Grudziądz(A1)-Ełk (S61) 275 km (170.88 mi) Bypass of Biscupiec and some other parts are of S-standart but not signed 24.7 km (15.35 mi) two-laned S-standart which won't be signed In the government's plan[6]
S17 Warszawa (S8) – Hrebenne-Rawa Ruska (border with Ukraine) 322.3 km (200.27 mi) 83.2 km (51.70 mi) 25.814% 24.4 km (15.16 mi) 83.5 km (51.88 mi)
S19 Kuźnica Białostocka-Bruzgi (border with Belarus) – Barwinek (border with Slovakia) 594.7 km (369.53 mi) 19 km (11.81 mi)+14.4 km (8.95 mi) 1st carriageway 4.405% 16.2 km (10.07 mi)  157.5 km (97.87 mi) 85.6 km (53.19 mi)
S22 ElblągGrzechotki (border with Russia, Kaliningradska oblast) 48.6 km (30.20 mi) 48.6 km (30.20 mi) 100%
S51 OlsztynOlsztynek (S7) 18.5 km (11.50 mi) 5.2 km (3.23 mi) 28.108% 13.3 km (8.26 mi)
S61 Ostrów Mazowiecka (S8) – Budzisko (border with Lithuania) 234.5 km (145.71 mi) 12.75 km (7.92 mi)+6.5 km (4.04 mi) 1st carriageway 6.823% 12.8 km (7.95 mi)+8 km (4.97 mi) 2nd carriageway ca. 99.5 km (61.83 mi)+14.5 km (9.01 mi) 2nd carriageway
S69 Bielsko-BiałaZwardoń (border with Slovakia) 48.4 km (30.07 mi) 39.9 km (24.79 mi) 82.438% 8.5 km (5.28 mi)
S74 Sulejów (S12) – Nisko (S19) 192.2 km (119.43 mi) 6.8 km (4.23 mi) 3.538% 37.4 km (23.24 mi)
S79 Warszawa-Lotnisko (S2) – Warszawa-Marynarska 4.3 km (2.67 mi) 4.3 km (2.67 mi) 100% Notes.1)DK86 is longer than the shown S86 projected length. It just does not figure in any government plans.

2)DK89 is an S-standart road on whole length but, as it is signed so in no of the resources below as an expressway(as in the case with S16) the characteristics are not shown and not accounted in the total expressway length.

3)Lublin bypass is spanned by S12, S17 and S19. It is not signed for S19(9 km (5.59 mi)) in the mileage but is so for S17 and S12. Account that the parallel numbering of the latter two goes for approx. 73 km (45.36 mi)

S86-PL.svg
[7]
Katowice(węzeł Roździeńskiego)-Sosnowiec(węzeł Pogoń) 6.8 km (4.23 mi) 6.8 km (4.23 mi) 100%
In total[8][9][10] 5,759.8 km (3,578.97 mi) 1,463.9 km (909.63 mi)(of which approx. 50 km (31.07 mi) temporal)+164.42 km (102.17 mi) 1st carriageway 26.8431% 605.63 km (376.32 mi)+42.7 km (26.53 mi) 2nd carriageway 1,070.99 km (665.48 mi)+24.7 km (15.35 mi) two-laned S-standart which won't be signed+43.3 km (26.91 mi) 2nd carriageway 379.23 km (235.64 mi)+59.72 km (37.11 mi) 2nd carriageway
Kind of highway Planned mileage Done In percentage In realisation(building) Tendered With DŚU
Autostrady(motorways) 1,989 km (1,235.91 mi) 1,550.75 km (963.59 mi)+71.5 km (44.43 mi) 1st carriageway 79.7637% 102.1 km (63.44 mi) ca. 31 km (19.26 mi) 233.65 km (145.18 mi)+71.5 km (44.43 mi) 2nd carriageway
Expressways 5,759.8 km (3,578.97 mi) 1,463.9 km (909.63 mi)+164.42 km (102.17 mi) 1st carriageway 26.8431% 605.63 km (376.32 mi)+42.7 km (26.53 mi) 2nd carriageway 1,095.69 km (680.83 mi)(DK16 incl.)+43.3 km (26.91 mi) 2nd carriageway 379.23 km (235.64 mi)+59.72 km (37.11 mi) 2nd carriageway
Total 7,748.8 km (4,814.88 mi) 3,014.65 km (1,873.22 mi)+13.4 km (8.33 mi) 1st carriageway 40.4206%1 707.73 km (439.76 mi)+13.4 km (8.33 mi) 2nd carriageway 1,126.69 km (700.09 mi)+13.4 km (8.33 mi) 2nd carriageway 612.88 km (380.83 mi)+13.4 km (8.33 mi) km 2nd carriageway

History of Highway Planning prior to the Second World War[edit]

The network planned prior to WWII

The first plans for the creation of a national highway network in Poland were conceived in the interwar period. The main promoter of this concept was Professor Melchior Wladyslaw Nestorowicz of the Warsaw University of Technology, who organized three Road Congresses, during which a group of specialists discussed the creation of the network. On March 5, 1939, in the trade magazine Drogowiec, Professor Nestorowicz proposed a very ambitious plan for the construction of almost 5,000 kilometres of category I and II roads, based on similar programmes in Germany and Italy.[10] Nestorowicz sketched a map of the future system with the following routes:

First class roads consisted of the following motorways:

A total of 2,400 km (1,500 mi)

Second class roads consisted of the following motorways:

A total of 2,295 km (1,430 mi)

The current planned network consists of six highways (A1, A2, A4, A6, A8, A18) and 20 express roads.[5]

Total length of highways in Poland (end of the year)[edit]

1945-1976 - 133 km
1977 – 169 km
1978 – 169 km
1979 – 190 km
1980 – 190 km
1981 – 190 km
1982 – 190 km
1983 – 255 km
1984 – 278 km
1985 – 321 km
1986 – 327 km
1987 – 327 km
1988 – 348 km
1989 – 366 km
1990 – 381 km
1991 – 399 km
1992 – 399 km
1993 – 403 km
1994 – 405 km
1995 – 440 km
1996 – 453 km
1997 – 456 km
1998 – 490 km
1999 – 502 km
2000 – 592 km
2001 – 630 km
2002 – 639 km
2003 – 727 km
2004 – 781 km
2005 – 848 km
2006 – 1013 km
2007 – 1083 km
2008 – 1282 km
2009 – 1454 km
2010 – 1560 km
2011 – 1865 km
2012 – 2495 km
2013 – 2805 km
2014 – 3100 km
2015 – 3134 km (forecast)[11]
2016 – 3234 km (forecast)[11]
2017 – 3525 km (forecast)[11]

Note[edit]

Information in the tables given as of 18.10.2015.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ TRANSPORT Activity Results in 2011 Główny Urząd Statystyczny
  2. ^ a b c d e Polish motorways and expressways stats on skyscrapercity(Polish) Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ssc" defined multiple times with different content (see ) (see the ).
  3. ^ Dz.U. 2004 nr 128 poz. 1334(Polish)
  4. ^ Dz.U. 2007 nr 35 poz. 220(Polish)
  5. ^ a b Dz.U. 2009 nr 187 poz. 1446(Polish)
  6. ^ a b "S16 na priorytetowej liście Rządu". olsztyn.tvp.pl. Retrieved 2015-10-05. 
  7. ^ a b "Strona główna :: Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad - Serwis informacyjny". www.gddkia.gov.pl/pl/1077/mapa-stanu-budowy-drog. Retrieved 2015-10-05. 
  8. ^ a b "OpenStreetMap". www.openstreetmap.org. Retrieved 2015-10-05. 
  9. ^ a b "Mapa autostrad i dróg ekspresowych w Polsce - SISKOM & SSC". ssc.siskom.waw.pl. Retrieved 2015-10-05. 
  10. ^ Prof. M. W. Nestorowicz, Problem budowy dróg samochodowych (autostrad) w Polsce
  11. ^ a b c http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1142261

External links[edit]