Parts of Expressway S-69 opened

“This road joins two countries: Poland and Slovakia”, said Minister of Transport Jerzy Polaczek during the opening ceremony of the three parts of Expressway S-69, on 8 January 2007. Total length of the parts left for use is 10.5km as expressway and 3.3km as roads reconstructed and adapted do heavy weight traffic.

The construction of the road consisted of three tasks:
1. Part of Milówka – Szare (construction of expressway – 2.8km and reconstruction of powiat road – 1.8km as a slip road to Expressway S-69. It was built by Skanska JSC and cost 106.6mln PLN).
2. Part of “Żywiec” Junction – “Brewery” Junction (construction of expressway – 2.8km and 1.5km as a slip road connecting “Żywiec” Junction with a bridge on the Sola River in Żywiec. It was built by a Consortium of Kirchner & Mosty Łódź and cost 74.1mln PLN).
3. Part of “Brewery” Junction – “Przybędza” Junction (construction of expressway – 4.9km. It was built by a Consortium of MSF & TGA and cost 80mln PLN. Also, the following spots were built as 17 flyovers, including the biggest the viaduct over the Kamieszniczanka Valley – 660m.

In the previous years, two parts of the expressway were left for use – 2.5km, the part in Laliki together with junction and part of Zwardoń – Myto.

It is only the part of Żywiec – Zwardoń to complete and the first part of the expressway will be ready, ie part of Szare – Laliki and part of Laliki II – Zwardoń. Bidding procedure is being held to prepare a contract award recommendation.

Preparation works are under way to implement other parts of the expressway construction, ie part of Bielsko-Biała – Żywiec and Węgierska Górka Bypass. It is assumed that the construction of Bielsko-Biała – Żywiec, 27km long and two-street road, will be completed in 2008-2010, and construction of Węgierska Górka Bypass, 8.5km, two street road – in 2009-2011.

Fot. Paweł Szczotka -
"Kronika Beskidzka"