Visibly better conditions in Autostrada Wielkopolska

The beginning of the year makes a perfect opportunity to sum up the past year and announce the new implementations for 2023. Autostrada Wielkopolska has not slowed down the pace of investments and AWSA’s long-term plans will continue to be implemented. Only last year, over 40 km of the mainline road pavement and other two motorway interchanges were upgraded. The lighting has been successively replaced with more ecological LED luminaires. Further investments are planned to improve driving comfort and driver safety.

In 2022 alone, over 460,000 square meters of the pavement were replaced in the A2 motorway concession section between Nowy Tomyśl and Buk and in motorway interchanges in the above localities. This makes nearly half a million square meters of new pavement! In each of these places, the wearing course was replaced and the necessary rehabilitation of the road structure was performed. The highest quality materials were used to replace the wearing course, including highly modified HIMA asphalt providing better performance and longer service life. As a result the pavement is much more flexible, resistant to deformation and fatigue as well as low-temperature cracking. Road markings and signposts were also renovated. All these improvements have a real impact on enhancing the safety and driving comfort of drivers traveling along Autostrada Wielkopolska motorway.

We have consistently fulfilled our commitments and implemented the adopted long-term work schedule. This year the rehabilitation of the pavement in the section between Buk and Poznań and in the motorway interchanges will be continued. This large scale project is challenging in the light of the current market situation and skyrocketing costs, but the quality of our infrastructure which contributes to strengthening the safety of drivers and improving travel comfort is our priority – says Sebastian Joachimiak, member of the Management Board of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A.

Last year the Company partially modernized the luminaires, replacing less efficient sodium luminaires with more ecological LED luminaires. Drivers traveling on the sections between Jordanów and Poznań and between Września and Konin are already experiencing the benefits of the new lighting system. The new color and optical system directing all emitted light onto the motorway improve visibility and thus enhance road safety. In addition, white light does not cause drivers’ eyes to tire so quickly. Moreover, LED luminaires are environment-friendly, as their demand for electricity is reduced by about 50%. In addition, LED lighting has less impact on the areas adjacent to the motorway, causing less “light pollution” of the natural environment. This year, the Company plans to complete the installation of LED luminaires on the remaining sections, Toll Plazas and Stations and Rest and Service Areas (MOPs), so that at the end of the year drivers will be able to fully benefit from the new lighting along the entire Wielkopolska Autostrada.

Intensive 2023

The plans also include the upgrading of some bridges and overbridges and the construction of additional guardrails. Charging stations for electric vehicles are being designed to be installed starting in 2024. The commercial and service offer at the Rest and Service Areas will continue to be developed and enriched with new formats in 2023. The works on the extension of the 10 km Poznań bypass to include the 3rd lane in the section between the Poznań Krzesiny and Poznań Wschód interchanges have been progressing as planned.

We have been attentive to the needs of drivers, analyzing the situation and taking actions that ensure efficient, safe and comfortable travel on our motorway. The work on extending the successive 10 km of the Poznań bypass with the 3rd lane have been commenced in advance, so as to provide drivers with a ready, well-thought-out and prepared service, and minimize the burden related to the implementation of the project. If all works are performed according to the plan, the 3rd lane in the above section will be ready by the end of 2025. – says Krzysztof Andrzejewski, member of the Management Board of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A.

Technically, the extension of the 3rd lane in the Poznań Krzesiny – Poznań Wschód section is much more difficult than the recently completed extension of the Poznań Zachód – Poznań Krzesiny section. The project involves much larger scope of earthworks, as the extension requires the carriageway to be widened on the external part along its entire length in both directions. Such project entails not only an extremely precise and time-consuming planning process, but also possible logistic challenges that may arise after starting groundworks.

The motorway is an organism which guarantees efficient, safe and comfortable travel if properly operated. Motorway operation service consists of: constant care and ensuring a good pavement, high standard of winter maintenance, solutions supporting sustainable development, such as ecological lighting or electric car charging stations, and most importantly, all possible solutions to improve safety on the road.