The European Investment Bank (EIB) lends EUR 565 million to finance the construction of two sections of the Warsaw motorway ring-road with the total length of 29 km westwards to the Polish Capital. The new express motorway sections are located on the crossroad of Trans-European Transport Corridors linking Warsaw with Helsinki, Berlin, Niznyj Novgorod, Gdansk and Ostrava.

The EIB funds will finance the construction of two out of five sections of the envisaged 84 km ring-road expressway around Warsaw, covering a 10.4 km section from the Konotopa to the Pulawska interchanges and a 14.4 km section, from the Konotopa to the Powazkowska interchanges. In addition, the project involves the ongoing construction of a 4.4 km long radial motorway section from the Lotnisko to the Marynarska interchanges that will improve the link between the ring-road and the Warsaw’s airport.

EIB financing would complement the EU grant resources available for this project, including a possible pre-financing  of  such resources that could accelerate the implementation of this road infrastructure of prime importance for Poland.

The General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) will be the project promoter and the Mazovieckie Voivodship (Wojewodztwo mazowieckie) is the final beneficiary of the EIB loan.

Mrs. Marta Gajecka, EIB Vice-President responsible for EIB lending in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, commented: “The Warsaw agglomeration is the most important node for the transport system in Poland. The new Warsaw Ring Road sections will contribute to upgrade the priority transport connections of Warsaw with the rest of Poland. The Warsaw ring-road will also improve the quality of environment diverting traffic from city’s streets and provide additional crossing over the Vistula River and improved access to Warsaw Airport.”

Background:

The remit of the EIB, the European Union’s long-term financing institution, is to contribute to the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the Member States by financing sound investment. Since 2000 the EIB has signed finance contracts in Poland amounting to EUR 15.5 billion. In 2008 alone, EIB loan signatures in Poland amounted to some EUR 2.83 billion, an increase of around 25% compared to 2007.

The rehabilitation and expansion of trans-European infrastructure, notably transport corridors, are crucial for the successful development of Poland within the EU Single Market. Investment in infrastructure is essential for removing bottlenecks and barriers to the efficient movement of people and goods, enhancing safety and safeguarding the environment. Up to the end of 2008, the Bank provided around EUR 6.7 billion for the upgrading and development of the Polish transport network. The EIB also co-finances projects implemented and operated under public-private partnership schemes (PPP). The EIB supported sections of the A1, A2, A4 and A6 motorways and major national roads along the Pan-European Corridors II, III and VI in Poland.