Third lane on the Poznań Bypass – we got it !

As of 20 December 2019 there are three lanes in each direction open to traffic on the Poznań Bypass. Autostrada Wielkopolska kept the promise they made in the beginning of this year and after 278 days of intense works, half a year ahead of the initial schedule, the drivers were given a special Christmas gift. 

The extension of the Poznań Bypass has been the first Polish project of such complexity built on site under traffic. Every day 70 thousand drivers on the average were using the Bypass. Works on a 16-km stretch between Poznań Zachód (West) and Poznań Krzesiny interchanges were performed while keeping always two lanes in each direction. Works comprised not only the widening of the road to include the third lane, but also the rehabilitation of pavement and infrastructure in the entire stretch. This project required from all participants vast experience and mobilization of huge equipment and human resources at a very short notice. The construction involved 200 people working in a triple-shift system. The cost of the project amounting to PLN 202 million has been fully financed by Autostrada Wielkopolska. Not a single Polish zloty of subsidies has been expended for the Poznań Bypass extension by Polish taxpayers or the State budget. 

This project is extremely important to millions of drivers not only in the Poznań agglomeration but also those in transit, as A2 motorway is a major international transportation link between eastern and western Poland. 

– We are proud that the inhabitants of the capital city of Wielkopolska, as well as drivers in transit will be able to travel more safely and swiftly using three lanes of the Bypass in each direction. Poznań has become one of the few Polish cities that have such a modern and toll-free bypass – says Sebastian Joachimiak, Management Board Member of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. – Today I won’t hesitate to say that the private concessionaire once again proved that it is capable of building motorways in Poland quickly, smoothly and with no delays and that it can succeed in opening the road to traffic ahead of schedule. The first such event took place on 1 December 2011 when drivers were able to use the newly built Świecko – Nowy Tomyśl section half a year before the scheduled completion date – he adds. 

Today, when the Poznań Bypass extension is already open to traffic, 5 factors can be identified that contributed to the successful project: 

• Meticulous planning of works
• Quick responses during the works progress 
• Seamless collaboration between the employer and the contractor
• Fully secured financing using the employer’s own funds
• Good communication with the partners, services and public opinion

The fact that the three-lane bypass has been opened to traffic does not mean the entire project is over. Next spring the remaining finishing works will be performed which, however, will cause no traffic disturbance anymore. They will include, without limitation, the expansion of the existing noise barriers and construction of new ones where the environmental regulations require them to be built to protect the environment from noise generated by traffic. Thus, the noise barrier area will be almost tripled and will amount to 28 thousand m². Also, next year the traffic management system will be brought into operation, with ten variable message signs providing ongoing information to the drivers regarding the traffic situation. 

– My sincere thanks go to the Poznań dwellers and the transit drivers for their patience and understanding during the construction. We are happy to be able to have this special gift for the forthcoming Christmas, namely a new, open, three-lane Poznań Bypass which is an example of the reliability attributable to the Wielkopolska Region, professional attitude and high quality of work – emphasizes Sebastian Joachimiak, Management Board Member of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A..