A4 autostrada (Poland)
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Route information | |
Part of  | |
| Length: | 672 km (418 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| From: |
 A4 - border Germany-Poland at Görlitz-Zgorzelec |
|
 S19 near Rzeszów | |
| To: |
border Poland-Ukraine at Korczowa-Krakovets -  M10 |
| Location | |
| Major cities: | Wrocław, Gliwice, Katowice, Kraków, Rzeszów |
| Highway system | |
| National roads in Poland | |
The autostrada A4 in Poland is an east-west motorway that runs through southern Poland north of the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains, from the Polish-German border at Zgorzelec-Görlitz (connecting to the German A4 autobahn), bypassing Wrocław, Opole, Gliwice, Katowice, Kraków, Tarnów, Dębica and Rzeszów to the Polish-Ukrainian border at Korczowa-Krakovets. The motorway is a part of the European route E40. The A4 parallels national road 94 (which connects with German Bundesstraße 6).
History of construction
Some western stretches of this motorway were initially built as a Reichsautobahn by Nazi Germany in the 1930s under her pre-war borders. After World War II and the takeover of Poland by the communist regime, with new borders, the existing roads received minimal maintenance and upgrades and became notorious for their poor quality, a phenomenon similar to that observed in East Germany. Extensive reconstruction, especially of the section between Legnica and Wrocław, has removed all traces of the old concrete road surface, but some aspects of 1930s standards of construction remain; for example, the aforementioned stretch does not have an emergency lane, a feature that is to be added in the future.
The section between Kraków and Katowice was built from the 1980s to 1996 and the section from Wrocław to Katowice between 2000 and 2005. In August 2009 construction of the last western part of the motorway from the border with Germany to the junction with A18 motorway was completed. Also completed in 2009 was the first portion of the motorway east of Kraków (ending on national road 75 junction, near Szarów). In July 2016 the missing 41 km between Rzeszów and Jaroslaw was completed. This was the final stretch of missing motorway to be completed. So in 2016 the entire length of the A4 from the German border to the Ukrainian border was completed, making the A4 the first complete motorway in Poland.
The original plan was to finish the rest of the motorway by about 2013, but because of the UEFA decision to host the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship in Poland and Ukraine and the resulting need to improve the road infrastructure connecting the two countries, the date for opening the motorway to traffic was moved up to June 2012. This ambitious target was not attained after multiple delays, some caused by the floods of 2010.[1]
Sections of the motorway
| Motorway section | Length | Constructed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jędrzychowice (border) - Zgorzelec | 1.7 km (1.1 mi) | 1994–1996 | heavy-load trucks only in 1994, all cars since 1996 |
| Zgorzelec - Krzyżowa | 50 km (31 mi) | 2007–2009 | opened 2009 |
| Krzyżowa - Bielany Wrocławskie | 99 km (62 mi) | 1933–1937 | repavement started in 90's finished 2006 without emergency lane |
| Bielany Wrocławskie - Przylesie(Brzeg) | 40.7 km (25.3 mi) | 1997–2000 | single carriageway motorway built in 1936-1938; tolls since 1 June 2012 |
| Przylesie(Brzeg) - Nogowczyce | 84.5 km (52.5 mi) | 2000–2003 | some construction before 1945; tolls since 1 June 2012 |
| Nogowczyce - Kleszczów | 17.9 km (11.1 mi) | 2001–2003 | single carriageway motorway built in 1936-1942, it continued from Kleszczów into Gliwice and today that section is National Road 88, while modern motorway bypasses Gliwice to the south; tolls since 1 June 2012 |
| Kleszczów - Katowice-Murckowska | 43 km (27 mi) | 1996–2005 | parts opened 1996 - 2005; Kleszczów - Gliwice-Sośnica part tolled since 1 June 2012 |
| Katowice-Murckowska - Balice | 60 km (37 mi) | 1983–1996 | opened in parts 1983-1996, private operator and tolls since 2000 |
| Balice - Szarów | 44 km (27 mi) | 1988–2009 | first sections signed as motorway in 2002 |
| Szarów - Tarnów | 57 km (35 mi) | 2010–2013 | opened to traffic in November, 2012, in part with single carriegeway only.[2] Both carriageways were fully opened in May, 2013.[3] |
| Tarnów Północ - Dębica Wschód[4] | 34.8 km (21.6 mi) | 2010–2014 | Opened Oct 30, 2014. Wisloka River viaduct (1.3 km) single carriageway only, the second carriageway opened a day later on Oct 31., 2014[5][6] |
| Dębica (interchange Dębica Wschód) - Rzeszów (Zachód)[7] | 37 km (23 mi) | 2010–2013 | opened in October, 2013 |
| Rzeszów (Zachód) - Rzeszów (Centralny)[8] | 4.0 km (2.5 mi) | 2010–2013 | opened in October, 2013 |
| Rzeszów (Centralny) - Rzeszów(Wschód)[9] | 6.9 km (4.3 mi) | 2010–2012 | opened in September, 2012 |
| Rzeszów(Wschód) - Jarosław[10] | 41.2 km (25.6 mi) | 2010–2016 | originally planned to finish in 2012, delayed until 2014, then contractor abandoned the contract in January 2014 when 70% complete due to dispute with the government over financing. New contract was awarded in September,[11] with construction beginning in October 2014. Opened in July, 2016.[12] |
| Jarosław - Radymno | 24.5 km (15.2 mi) | 2010–2013 | Jarosław Wschód - Radymno: opened in May, 2013; Jarosław Zachód - Jarosław Wschód: opened in December, 2013. |
| Radymno - Korczowa[13] | 22.6 km (14.0 mi) | 2010–2013 | originally planned to finish in 2012,[14] opened December 23, 2013[15] |
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Route description
| Route | ||
| Number of exit, facility | Kilometers |  |
 (1) |
(0) | Border crossing PL-DE Jędrzychowice |
 (2) |
(1.8) | Zgorzelec   |
| Rest area(1) | (7.8) | Żarska Wieś, restaurant and motel eastbound, petrol station both ways |
| (3) |
(17.9) | Godzieszów  (access through DW296) |
| Parking area(1) | (26) | Czerna; parking only |
| (4) |
(44.6) | Bolesławiec  |
| Rest area(2) | (46.2) | Kraśnik Dolny(eastbound only), restaurant, motel and petrol station |
 (5) |
(49.8) | Krzyżowa   |
| (6) |
(56) | Krzywa (secondary road to Szczytnica, restaurant and petrol station) |
| (7) |
(62) | Krzywa |
| (8) |
(66.6) | Jadwisin |
| (9) |
(73) | Chojnów  |
| Parking area(2) | (76.6) | near Strupice |
| (10) |
(79.9) | Lubiatów |
| (11) |
(83.6) | Złotoryja  |
 (12) |
(91.9) | Legnica S3(tender) |
| (13) |
(97) | Legnickie Pole (exit and entrance only eastbound) |
| (14) |
(99.6) | Mikołajowice |
| (15) |
(104.7) | Wądroże Wielkie |
| (16) |
(112.1) | Budziszów  |
| (17) |
(115.9) | Udanin |
| Rest area(3) | (119.7) | eastbound only; parking, restaurant, and shower facilities |
| (18) |
(120.1) | Jarosław (Dolnośląskie) |
| (19) |
(120.6) | Kostomłoty  (heading to Bolków, Lubawka) |
| (20) |
(137.4) | Kąty Wrocławskie  |
| (21) |
(147.4) | Pietrzykowice  (access through |
| (22) |
(150.3) | Wrocław-Południe    |
| (23) |
(153.1) | Bielany Wrocławskie  |
| Toll booth(1) | (156) | |
| (24) |
(164.3) | Wyjazd 164(no name) |
| Parking area(3) | (166) | |
| (25) |
(178.5) | Wyjazd 178(no name) |
| Rest area(4) | (183.7) | Witowice(restaurant) |
| (193.1) | Entrance to wójewodstwo Opolskie | |
| (26) |
(193.7) | Wyjazd 194 (access through  |
| Parking area(4) | (200.3) | Jankowice Wielkie(eastbound only) |
| Rest area(5) | (218.7) | Młyński Staw(Motel and petrol station) |
| (27) |
(222) | Prądy  |
| Parking area(5) | (237.2) | Przysiecz |
| (28) |
(244.1) | Wyjazd 241(Dąbrówka)  |
| (29) |
(251.2) | Wyjazd 248(Krapkowice, Gogolin) |
| Rest area Góra Św. Anny(eastbound)/Wysoka(westbound)(6) | (264.2) | Shower,restaurant and petrol station |
| (30) |
(272.1) | Wyjazd 269(Olszowa) |
| (31) |
(278) | Nogowczyce  (Wyjazd 275) |
| (281) | Entrance to wójewodstwo śląskie | |
| (32) |
(287.2) | Łany  (Wyjazd 287) |
| (33) |
(295.8) | Kleszczów |
| Rest area(7) | (299.7) | Rachowice(restaurant, petrol station) |
| (34) |
(303.5) | Gliwice - Ostropa |
| (35) |
(310.1) | Gliwice - Bojków  |
| Toll booth(2) | (311.7) | Gliwice |
| (36) |
(315.5) | Gliwice - Sośnica   |
| (37) |
(320.8) | Ruda Śląska - Wspólna |
| (38) |
(324) | Ruda Śląska - Wirek |
| Rest area(8) | (326.9) | Halemba (restaurant, petrol station and shower) |
| (39) |
(331.5) | Chorzów - Batory (exit to Batorego str.) |
| (40) |
(334.1-335.6) | Katowice - Mikołowska  (through Mikołowska, brymowska and Kościuszki str., irregular form interchange[16]) |
| (41) |
(337.2) | Katowice - Francuska |
| (42) |
(339.5) | Katowice - Murckowska  |
| (43) |
(345.8) | Mysłowice |
| (44) |
(348.7) | Brzęczkowice    |
| Toll booth(3) | (350.6) | Mysłowice |
| (45) |
(359) | Jaworzno - Jeleń |
| Rest area(9) | (361.2) | Zastawie(westbound)/Kępnica(eastbound)(petrol station, motel, TIR, restaurant, carwash) |
| (46) |
(364.6) | Byczyna(entrance eastbound, exit westbound only), entrance to wójewodswo małopolskie |
| (47) |
(388.4) | Balin |
| (48) |
(370.6) | Chrzanów |
| (49) |
(380.9) | Rudno, exit and entrance only eastbound |
| Rest area(10) | (397.5) | (petrol station, motel, restaurant, carwash) |
| Toll booth(4) | (399.2) | Kraków |
| (50) |
(400.2) | Balice I   |
| (51) |
(401.7) | Balice II |
| (52) |
(406.4) | Kraków - Mirowska |
| (53) |
(408.1) | Kraków - Tyniec |
| (54) |
(411.6) | Kraków - Sidzina |
| (55) |
(416.1) | Zakopiańska S7(in faraway plans) |
| (56) |
(418.2) | Kraków - Łagiewniki |
| (57) |
(424) | Kraków - Wieliczka |
| (58) |
(427.3) | Kraków - Bieżanów S7(under construction) |
| (59) |
(443.5) | Szarów/Targowisko  (indirect access to) |
| Rest area(11) | (448.3) | Kłaj(restaurant and petrol station) |
| (60) |
(457.1) | Bochnia |
| (61) |
(466.9) | Brzesko through) |
| (62) |
(487.5) | Tarnów Zachód |
| (63) |
(500.8) | Tarnów Północ  |
| (516.2) | Entrance to wójewodstwo podkarpackie' | |
| (64) |
(530.5) | Dębica <Zachód |
| (65) |
(536.9) | Dębica Wschód |
| (66) |
(551.6) | Ropczyce - Sędziszów |
| Rest area(12) | (564.9) | Bratkowice, facilities(parking and toilet); further planned |
| (67) |
(570.3) | Rzeszów Zachód |
| (68) |
(574.4) | Rzeszów Północ   |
| (69) |
(581.2) | Rzeszów Wschód  |
| (70) |
() | Łańcut  |
| (71) |
() | Przeworsk  |
| (72) |
(622.5) | Jarosław Zachód |
| (73) |
(631.7) | Jarosław Wschód  |
| (74) |
(646.7) | Przemyśl  |
| (75) |
(666.3) | Korczowa |
 |
(670.2) | Border checkpoint PL-UA Korczowa |
 | ||
| Those interchanges signed in bold are in the toll road system existing now. Those interchanges underlined are planned to become part of it(some progress was already made on it). | ||
See also
References
- ↑ "Nowak: autostrad na Euro 2012 nie będzie".
- ↑ Budowa autostrady A4 pod Tarnowem na finiszu
- ↑ http://www.gddkia.gov.pl/pl/a/12401/Dwie-jezdnie-na-A4-miedzy-Brzeskiem-a-Wierzchoslawicami Dwie jezdnie na A4 między Brzeskiem a Wierzchosławicami
- ↑ GDDKiA info on A4 w. Krzyż - w. Dębica Pustynia
- ↑ http://www.gddkia.gov.pl/pl/a/16919/Dwoma-jezdniami-po-estakadzie-na-odcinku-A4-Tarnow-Debica
- ↑ http://wyborcza.biz/biznes/1,100896,16842239,Znamy_date_otwarcia_odcinka_A4_Tarnow___Debica_.html
- ↑ GDDKiA info on A4 w. Dębica Pustynia - w. Rzeszów Zachód
- ↑ GDDKiA info on A4 w. Rzeszów Zachód - w. Rzeszów Centralny
- ↑ GGDDKiA information page for A4 w. Rzeszów Centralny - w. Rzeszów Wschód
- ↑ GGDDKiA information page for A4 Rzeszów Wschód - Jarosław (w. Wierzbna)
- ↑
- ↑ Radio Rzeszow
- ↑ GGDDKiA information page for A4 Radymno - Korczowa
- ↑ Podkarpacie: Mobilizacja na budowie A4 Radymno – Korczowa
- ↑ Autostradą A4 do granicy - GDDKiA announcement
- ↑ "Mapy Google". Mapy Google. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Freeway A4 (Poland). |
