S11 EXPRESSWAY NORTH - SOUTH CORRIDOR COMPLETION

The Project concerns the construction of the remaining missing sections of the strategic North-South S11 corridor, aiming to ensure a continuous expressway connection from Koszalin to Katowice. It comprises two discontinuous sections of the S11 North corridor (Bobolice to Szczecinek and Oborniki to Poznan, including the Oborniki bypass, with a total length of 46.5 km) and one section of the S11 South corridor (Przygodzice to Olesno, including the widening of the existing Kepno bypass, totalling 79.6 km).

The project is addressing market/network failures related to accessibility. The project contributes to improved efficiency of TEN-T road network in Poland, thereby improving accessibility and market integration. The project is expected to contribute to the reduction of safety-related negative externalities, by diverting heavy and transit traffic from the agglomerations crossed by the national and local roads. The project will contribute to better accessibility in the region by adapting the technical and operational parameters of the road to the forecast traffic level, removing bottlenecks and completing missing elements of an efficient road infrastructure. Overall, the project will contribute towards fulfilling public policy targets aimed at the development of efficient and safe road transport system, which is properly adapted to the negative impacts of climate change. The project is located in less developed and transition regions of Poland, making it eligible under Article 309 (a) projects for developing less-developed regions. The entire project section is part of the TEN-T Comprehensive network (Regulation 2024/1679), and the project is therefore eligible also under Article 309 (c) common interest of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. It also contributes to the EIB Public Policy Goal (PPG) of Sustainable Cities and Regions.

The project includes multiple sections of the S11 expressway, which fall under Annex I of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU (as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU), and are therefore subject to a full EIA procedure. A total of six Environmental Decisions have been issued by the Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection (RDO?), covering all eight sections of the project. In cases where the decision was appealed, it was confirmed by the General Directorate for Environmental Protection (GDO?) and, where relevant, by the Administrative Court (WSA). One construction permit (ZRID) was granted in 2022 for the Bobolice - Szczecinek section. The supplementary EIA (SEIA) procedures are ongoing for the remaining sections, and the ZRID decisions are expected in 2026. Based on the environmental documentation, parts of the alignment directly intersect four Natura 2000 sites - PLH320009 Jeziora Szczecineckie and PLH320022 Dolina Radwi, Chocieli i Chotli - along the Bobolice - Szczecinek section and PLH300001 Biedrusko and PLB300015 Puszcza Notecka along the Oborniki - Poznan Polnoc section. In addition, the project runs in proximity to several other Natura 2000 areas, including, PLB300013 Dolina Samicy, PLH300043 Dolina We?ny, PLB020001 Dolina Baryczy, PLH020041 Ostoja nad Barycz?, PLH300056 Buczyna w D?ugiej Go?linie and PLH300035 Baranów and possible others, but without direct intersection. The requirements of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) and the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) will be further checked during the Bank's appraisal. The project is expected to contribute to climate action and environmental sustainability (CA&ES) objectives, in particular to climate adaptation. Potential climate risks, the scope and adequacy of the applied adaptation measures for ensuring long-term resilience of the new road, and impact of the project implementation on the GHG emissions will be further assessed during the appraisal.

The project was procured through eight design-build contracts, all awarded to Polish construction firms. The Bank during the appraisal will review if the Promoter has procured contracts for implementation of the project in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/24/EU as well as Directive 89/665/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the EU Official Journal, as and where required.