EIB lends money for roads
The European Investment Bank and the transport ministry will be signing a credit deal next week in which the bank will be forwarding EUR80m for repairs to the A4 between Krzywa and Wrocław. A further EUR140m deal to finance two dual carriageway sections is also expected in the near future.
The A4 motorway leading west from Wrocław is in a terrible state with slabs laid sixty five years ago still in use particularly for those travelling from Germany. The motorway, originally planned and started by the Nazis in the 1930s being designed to link Berlin with Upper Silesia, was the subject of little attention until two years ago when sections to the east of Wrocław were completely rebuilt into what is undoubtedly the best road in this country today. Now it is the turn of those sections to the west of the city. Major repairs to this 92km stretch of the A4 motorway will cost EUR272m with the EU ISPA fund finding EUR189m.
The dual carriageway which links Bielsko Biała with Cieszyn and Żywiec with Zwardoń is also to be financed in the same way. The EIB has earmarked EUR142m for this purpose. EUR72m is for the Żywiec to Zwardoń section and EUR40m for the Bielska to Cieszyń section.
The Żywiec to Zwardoń road is within one of the transeuropean transport corridors and is needed to link Poland with Slovakia to fulfill a promise made two years ago by the transport ministers of those respective countries.
The EU is prepared to put EUR1bn at Poland's disposal before EU entry. Poland can, however, only use these funds if detailed investment plans are submitted on time.