Big investment under the Oder. The longest road tunnel in Poland as early as 2033

The General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) announced the signing of a contract for the construction of the Western Szczecin Bypass. As part of the investment, a five-kilometre road tunnel will be built under the Oder River, the longest in the entire country. This is the largest construction contract in the history of GDDKiA and the most demanding road investment in Poland in engineering terms, said the Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak.

Two tubes 50 m underground

The planned Szczecin bypass must cross the Oder at some point. As explained by GDDKiA, terrain conditions and environmental considerations made a road tunnel north of the city of Police the best solution.

We are on the Oder, in a symbolic place. This is where the two longest road tunnels in Poland will be built, two large tubes in each, two lanes of an expressway running under the river over a length of 5 km, explained Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka during a press conference.

The tunnel will be excavated using a TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine). Two tubes will be built under the Oder, each 5 km long, with 19 cross passages that will allow drivers to evacuate in case of emergency. The bottom of the tunnel will reach 51 m below the surface, and the external diameter of each tube will be 15 m. At both ends, access sections 600 m long each are planned.

Tunnel under the Oder will be ready in seven years

According to the schedule, the first works will begin in the coming months. In 2027, the contractor will start building diaphragm walls for the launch chamber, and a year later the tunnelling will begin. In 2031, both tubes should be completed, which will allow for the installation of telecommunication infrastructure inside the tunnel. If everything goes according to plan, the first cars will pass under the Oder in 2033.

Investment of logistical, economic and environmental importance

The Western Szczecin Bypass will be part of the S6 route and will include 50 km of new expressway and a tunnel under the Oder. The total cost of the investment will amount to 5.3 billion PLN and will be the largest contract in terms of value in the history of GDDKiA. Representatives of the Directorate announce that the route will complete the ring road around the capital of Western Pomerania and improve access to the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście, industrial areas, and chemical plants in Police.

The new investment shows enormous economic potential related to the development of logistics zones, improved predictability of raw material transport, and strengthening Szczecin’s role as a transport hub. Connections with Germany and Scandinavia will also become easier.

The construction of the Western Szczecin Bypass may benefit the natural environment and residents of the metropolitan area by reducing heavy truck traffic in the city centre and lowering emission levels. However, critical voices have also emerged. They mainly concern the impact of the construction itself, especially noise and vibrations, on local fauna and the possible fragmentation of valuable natural habitats. Investors respond that the route alignment was analysed many times and that the tunnel was extended precisely for environmental reasons. The project also includes wildlife crossings, noise barriers, retention reservoirs, and environmental monitoring to minimise potential damage.

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main photo: Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad/ gov.pl