Brussels, 01/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 30 June, the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved a loan of €1 billion to finance the extension of a 106 km section of the A2 motorway forming part of the priority trans-European transport network connecting the Polish capital, Warsaw, with the German capital, Berlin.
EIB funds will cover 62.5% of the total cost of the project which will be implemented and operated by Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. (AWSA). The new motorway will link Swiecko and Nowy Tomysl in Western Poland and is a continuation of the first phase of construction between Nowy Tomysl-Komorniki and Krzesiny-Konin that was co-financed by the EIB with a €275 million loan and has been fully operational since 2004. The new motorway link will complete a 358 km-motorway section on Poland's main East-West transport axis, providing a modern highway connection between several major Polish cities, including Poznan, Lodz and Konin. (O.L./transl.jl)