POZNAN BYPASS THIRD LANE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

Just 18 months from now, residents of the capital of Greater Poland and all drivers using the A2 motorway will be driving on a modern three-lane Poznań bypass, widened to include a third lane in each direction on another 10 kilometer stretch. First works related to the widening of the Poznań Krzesiny – Poznań Wschód section will start on 10 June and the entire project will be completed by the end of 2025.

Autostrada Wielkopolska is commencing the construction of the third lane in the A2 section between the Poznań Krzesiny and Poznań Wschód interchanges. The works in that section of the Poznań bypass include the construction of the third lane in each direction to widen the A2 in an approximately 10-kilometer section. Preparatory works preceding the construction will begin on 10 June. The road construction crew will begin fencing off the area of works, mark out temporary acceleration and driving lanes in accordance with the approved temporary traffic organization and build temporary median crossovers between the carriageways in the section between the Poznań Krzesiny and Poznań Wschód interchanges. The construction of the crossovers is necessary to keep safety and maintain two lanes in each direction during the proper construction works.

The construction proper will begin on 17 June. In the 10-kilometer-long section between the Poznań Krzesiny and Poznań Wschód interchanges, not only will the third lane be built in each direction, but also the pavement will be rehabilitated – it will be better adapted to higher traffic volumes and more durable. In addition, guard rails will be deployed and new noise barriers will be built, while the existing ones will be enlarged. As a result, more than 5,000 square meters of noise barriers and nearly 19,000 meters of guard rails will be built in the expanded section, providing better protection to more residents of Poznań and motorway users.

We realize that the coming months will be a difficult time for all drivers, but we need to complete this project to ensure smooth, safe and comfortable traveling on our motorway. We started the construction of the third lane in another 10 km of the Poznań bypass early, so as to provide drivers with a ready-made, carefully planned and prepared service, and to make the construction process as little inconvenient for them as possible, says Sebastian Joachimiak, member of the Management Board of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A.

The construction of the third lane in the Poznań Krzesiny – Poznań Wschód section is a much more technically challenging project than the recently completed widening of the Poznań Zachód – Poznań Krzesiny section. It provides for a much larger scope of earthworks, it requires widening the entire length of the pavement on the outside in both directions. This, in turn, requires not only an extremely precise planning process, but also involves potential logistical challenges that may arise once earthworks begin.

One of our most important conditions was to maintain two lanes in each direction. The works have been designed to cause as little inconvenience as possible to motorists, however it is impossible to avoid it completely. With this type of infrastructural projects what we are building is not only the third lane, we also have to take care of proper drainage, all teletechnical elements, etc. In addition, two mainline bridge structures need to be widened, these works being also included in the contract, says Marcin Szczepański, Technical Director of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A.

In parallel with the broadening, the existing carriageways will be rehabilitated and underground and above-ground infrastructure will be redeveloped. As part of individual phases of works, additional works in the area of the Poznań Wschód and Poznań Krzesiny interchanges have also been planned. In addition, two motorway bridges will be widened and rehabilitated. A total of 280,000 square meters of new pavement will be built during the construction of the third lane in this section of the motorway bypass of Poznań. The company chose to use HIMA high-modified asphalts to ensure the required durability of the pavement under heavy traffic. The works have been phased and scheduled to be performed without closing the motorway to traffic.

The widening of the Poznań bypass to include the third lane in another 10 kilometers, i.e. between the Poznań Krzesiny and Poznań Wschód interchanges, is aimed at improving traffic flow and ensuring efficient, safe and comfortable travel along the A2 concession section.
Traffic volume in that section of the Poznań bypass exceeds 56,000 vehicles per day. Having regard to the increase in the number of vehicles using the concession section of the A2 and in light of the results of the ongoing traffic analyses, Autostrada Wielkopolska commenced work in advance, as early as 2021, on widening another 10 km of the Poznań bypass. Thanks to the efficient planning and documentation phase, completion of this project will be possible by the end of 2025.

As in the case of the previous third lane construction on the A2 and all other projects completed so far, the company Autostrada Wielkopolska will do our best to ensure the works proceed smoothly, on time and with as little inconvenience to drivers as possible. If all the works go according to plan, the third lane in both directions in the A2 section between the Poznań Krzesiny and Poznań Wschód interchanges will be completed by the end of 2025. The main contractor for the work is Strabag Sp. z o.o., appointed as the successful bidder in a public tender.

The execution of the works has been divided into several stages, which are closely related to the elements located on the expanded section, namely the Poznań Krzesiny and Poznań Wschód interchanges and the Service Areas (MOPs) located between them. In phase one we will perform the works between the Poznań Wschód interchange and the Tulce/Krzyżowniki Rest Area and on the approaches to the Poznań Krzesiny interchange. This is the biggest challenge, because both interchanges are critical locations, experiencing quite heavy traffic. That is why they are our initial focus, says Marek Zaręba, Contract Director at Strabag Sp. z o.o., the main contractor.

The A2 motorway is extremely important for millions of drivers not only from Poznań and the surrounding area, but also from all over Poland. It is a major international transportation link between eastern and western Poland. The concession section of the A2 between Świecko and Konin is also part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), one of the key links between Western and Central Europe and a strategic transportation corridor for Poland in the Warsaw-Berlin axis.