Luxembourg, 30/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending EUR 300 million for the extension of the motorway network in Poland and EUR 350 million for the modernisation of priority roads, in line with the implementation of the Polish National Road Programme.
The first loan of EUR 300 million, contracted on behalf of the National Road Fund by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), will finance the extension of the Polish motorway network, focussing on the elimination of key bottlenecks, mostly on the borders with adjacent EU Member States. 'This will contribute to a smoother and safer traffic flow and better integration of Poland into the EU Single Market,' explains the bank in a press release. The project covers a 57 km section of the A1 motorway (Maciejow-Sosnica-Gorzyczki), a 51.3 km section of the A4 motorway (Zgorzelec-Krzyzowa) and the rehabilitation of an 8 km section of the A6 motorway (Klucz-Kijewo). All three sections are situated on priority transport axes along trans-European corridors. This project will be co-financed with grants provided by the EU Cohesion and Structural Funds and the Polish National Road Fund as well as other Polish public sources.
The loan of EUR 350 million will support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Polish national road network: upgrading road pavements, bridges and other structures located all over the country. The EIB comments: 'This will enhance the structural capacity of the national road network and improve safety in relation to the increasing traffic demand.' In this case EIB funds will be combined with a loan provided by the World Bank and own resources of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), the project promoter. (ol)