With the beginning of the summer holidays, another section of the S1 expressway between Podwarpie and Dąbrowa Górnicza was put into service. The stage completed by Budimex SA is 7 km long and is also one of the sections of the eastern bypass of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region.
Ultimately, the 135 km long S1 expressway is to connect the airport in Pyrzowice and the A1 motorway with the border with Slovakia in Zwardoń. The route is being built in the wake of an old national road. In addition, the section from Podwarpie to Dąbrowa Górnicza is also a fragment of the eastern bypass of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region. It will enable the removal of transit traffic from urban areas, which will benefit the inhabitants of the Upper Silesian agglomeration and the natural environment.
As part of the contract, the main contractor, Budimex SA, modernised the existing track of the road and adapted it to all parameters of the expressway. In addition, in accordance with the provisions of the contract, Budimex SA was responsible m.in. for the construction of two road junctions (Dąbrowa Górnicza Ząbkowice, Dąbrowa Górnicza Pogoria), providing access roads, building bays for services, rebuilding infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. The contract also provided for the reconstruction of the existing underground infrastructure, including water supply networks, power networks and sewage, as well as aboveground infrastructure in the form of modernization of the power grid, lighting, railway equipment, retention reservoirs, etc. Budimex was also responsible for providing environmental protection infrastructure, i.e. m.in. animal crossings and ecological culverts, and after the completion of the works, full reclamation of the area.
As part of the investment, a new dual carriageway section of the S1 expressway with a length of 6.61 km was built, along with the Dąbrowa Górnicza Ząbkowice junction. 13 engineering structures were built: two bridges, four viaducts, two footbridges and seven lower passages for animals. Access roads with a total length of about 5.8 km and 4.6 km of connecting roads were also built. 2.3 km of existing local roads were rebuilt. Not only drivers benefited from the investment, because along with the construction of roads, over 2.2 km of bicycle paths were created, which significantly improved local communication for local residents. Over 3.8 km of constructed noise barriers are responsible for reducing traffic noise – says Andrzej Czyż, Budimex Contract Director.
Road construction also means safety and industry-specific works.
A number of road safety devices have been added. We installed m.in. 27 km of energy-absorbing barriers, 11,000 m2 of horizontal markings, over 13 km of fences (including nearly 4 km of herpetological fences for animals) and other traffic safety equipment. Nearly 450 lanterns have been illuminated the newly built junctions and connecting roads, and rainwater from the newly created rainwater drainage system will find its outlet m.in. in five new retention reservoirs equipped with two pumping stations – says Andrzej Czyż.
After the opening, traffic restrictions will still remain at the Dąbrowa Górnicza – Pogoria road junction. At this point, the old viaduct in the line of provincial road No. 796 must be dismantled and a new one built. Here, the works are completed in approx. 35 per cent. According to the plans, the Pogoria junction will be put into service together with the newly built viaduct on December 31, 2024.
The works included the construction of a sanitary and rainwater sewage system, the reconstruction of large-diameter municipal water supply systems and industrial water belonging to Huta Katowice, as well as the reconstruction of gas transmission pipelines belonging to PSG and GAZ-SYSTEM. The high-voltage line colliding with the expressway, as well as teletechnical and power networks were also rebuilt – adds Andrzej Czyż.
The contract with the General Contractor was signed on 11.09.2020. The total value of the project amounted to PLN 302.5 million.
