Opening of A2 \u015awiecko \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl section, the largest motorway project in Poland<\/p>\n
\u2022 On 1 December 2011 Poland will be connected to the European motorways network
\n\u2022 The section will be put into service almost six months prior to the deadline
\n\u2022 Until 21 May 2012 the trip in A2 \u015awiecko \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl section will be untolled
\n\u2022 The section construction costs amounts to almost PLN 6 milliard (EUR 1.3 milliard), of which 25 per cent was earmarked for natural environment protection
\n\u2022 The section is performed in durable, modern concrete technology
\n\u2022 The project is co-financed by the European Investment Bank and the consortium of 11 Polish and European banks
\n\u2022 The project is the Poland\u2019s first and the largest implemented in the scope of Public-Private Partnership
\n\u2022 With 255 km of the modern A2 motorway, AWSA is the concessionaire which built the longest motorway section in Poland<\/p>\n
On 1 December just after midnight Autostrada Wielkopolska II (AWSA) will open the A2 Motorway Nowy Tomy\u015bl \u2013 \u015awiecko section to public traffic. By the same act, almost six months prior to the scheduled completion date, the longest and the most modern Polish motorway will connect to the European motorways network. Until 21 May 2012 the new 106 km section will remain untolled. The almost PLN 6 milliard project is the first and the largest project implemented in the scope of Public-Private Partnership in Poland, and one of the largest infrastructural projects currently under implementation in Europe.<\/p>\n
The new A2 motorway section to be put into operation counts among the most strategic parts of the motorway construction plan in Poland. By directly connecting to the German motorways network it will become the key transport route between Poland and Western Europe. The newly opened section connecting to the A12 German motorway (Berlin \u2013 Frankfurt am Main) in \u015awiecko will form a part of the strategic European transport route in the Berlin \u2013 Warsaw \u2013 Mi\u0144sk \u2013 Moscow line.<\/p>\n
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It is a great success of the Poles, including hundreds of people, companies and institutions, who have consequently and professionally supported the realization of a dream that we had almost 20 years ago. Connecting the Wielkopolska Province and the whole country via the supermodern motorway with the rest of Europe is the final point in the important stage of the transformation process. The A2 motorway will boost the economic development of its transit regions and open the door for foreign tourists and investors. This motorway is also creating a new standard for implementation of very complex international projects, which are implemented long before their deadlines and within their budgets. We performed our task reliably for the benefit of the generations to come,\u00a0says Mr Jan Kulczyk, the Chairman of the AWSA Supervisory Board.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The construction project of the section connecting \u015awiecko and Nowy Tomy\u015bl, which was carried out in the \u201cPPP\u201d system, clearly illustrates the ambitious plans of Meridiam Infrastructure, which is a long-term investor operating across the whole Europe. Our aim is to develop sustainable infrastructure, having in mind the improvement of the social living standard via a close and sustained partnership with the government sector. Poland is attractive for long-term investors because of its substantial infrastructural needs resulting from the positive dynamics in its economy, which makes it the key strategic market for Meridiam Infrastructure. The completion of the A2 motorway final section proves that the public sector is able to carry out infrastructural projects within deadlines and in a cost-efficient way, in good cooperation with such experts in that subjects like Meridiam,\u00a0informs Mr Thierry Deau, Partner and CEO of Meridiam Infrastructure<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n The 105.6 km long section opened to traffic by Autostrada Wielkopolska II was built in 866 days for the amount of PLN 6 milliard (EUR 1.3 milliard) It became the programme flag project performed in Public-Private Partnership system which proved efficient as evidenced by the fact of opening that unique, state-of-the-art motorway section in Poland almost six months prior to the planned completion date. The successful completion was made possible due to good management and co-operation between the public and private party to the complex project.<\/p>\n The project success also results from the good co-operation of the AWSAII shareholders (Kulczyk Holding, Meridiam, Strabag, KWM Investment), and also the parties co-financing the project: the European Investment Bank and the consortium of 11 commercial Polish and European banks.<\/p>\n In the construction of the new A2 section the modern concrete technology was used to ensure the highest currently attainable pavement fatigue life. Moreover, the technological challenge consisted in performing the project with utmost care for natural environment, as the 85% of the section to the German border crosses forest areas, including the sites protected under Natura 2000 programme. Already in the design phase, Autostrada Wielkopolska adopted all European environmental standards, as a result the new section counts among the most pro-ecological infrastructural projects in Europe. The expenses related to the environmental protection constituted 25% of the total project costs and were earmarked, without limitation, for the construction of about 200 crossings and culverts for large and small animals.<\/p>\n \u2018In our estimation, the project has been implemented professionally, in compliance with the highest environmental standards\u2019,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0said Mr Piers Vickers, representative of the European Investment Bank.<\/p>\n Completing the A2 motorway section connecting \u015awiecko and Nowy Tomy\u015bl is the last stage of the project of constructing the concessional section of the A2 motorway, carried out by the Autostrada Wielkopolska company. Overall we have built 255 km of that modern motorway, so we are the biggest concessionaire in Poland to have built such a long section. The investment is the largest infrastructural as well as environmental project in Europe as every fourth zloty spent was allocated for environmental protection. The perfectly smooth cooperation between the concessionaire and the main contractor has enabled us to open the motorway as soon as half a year before the deadline provided in the agreement with the state authorities,\u00a0says Mr Andrzej Patalas, the CEO of AWSA.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n ADDITIONAL INFORMATION\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The A2 Motorway will have a significant impact on the development of the project\u2019s closest neighbours, including the communes and the districts in the Wielkopolska and Lubuskie voivodship. \u201eThe process of building the motorway and the motorway interchanges has a material impact on the real property market. Due to the increased attractiveness of the land earmarked for business development around the motorway interchanges (including the construction of accommodation and catering facilities, entertainment parks etc.), the value of land earmarked for other, less lucrative purposes, will increase as well. The interest in real property earmarked for tourism will be reflected in investment processes, and the multifunctional nature of the projects trigger multilateral development of the area. This is because the existing tourist base is totally inadapted, quantity and quality wise, to the expected demand. The closeness of the motorway will surely attract investors, cause employment increase and trigger multiplier effects\u201d\u00a0<\/em>said prof. Franciszek Go\u0142embski, head of the Faculty of European Studies at the Warsaw University. The research of the Autonomous Section for Economics of the Road and Bridge Research shows that 1000 km of motorways may reduce the number of death casualties by 200, and the number of persons hurt in road accidents by 1300. At present over 30 persons die in the national road no 92 parallel to the motorway each year. Once the traffic load is reduced, the risk level will go down, meaning smaller number of road accidents and lower medical treatment expenses. According to the World Bank, as a result of road accidents the Polish economy loses about PLN 30 \u2013 40 milliard annually. It is assumed that the limiting the accidents rate in a 100 km motorway section may bring over PLN 30 million savings to the state budget.<\/p>\n Environment friendly motorway<\/strong><\/p>\n The A2 Motorway \u015awiecko \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl belongs to the largest currently implemented ecological projects in Europe. PPP flag project<\/strong><\/p>\n The project of Autostrada Wielkopolska is the first and the largest Polish project implemented in the PPP system: Best technology<\/strong><\/p>\n The state-of-the-art concrete technology was used in building the A2 motorway \u015awiecko \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl, to guarantee the quality meeting the highest standards for road and motorways construction in the European Union countries:<\/p>\n \u2022 A2 \u015awiecko \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl is the most modern and one of the longest motorway sections in Poland built using the concrete technology; Motorways and express roads in Poland<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 According to the Ministry of Infrastructure report of 8 November this year, 1380 km of national roads are currently under construction and modification; Project schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 1993 \u2013 registerring Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. company to build and operate the first Polish toll motorway from \u015awiecko to Konin; AWSA<\/strong> Shareholders:<\/p>\n \u2022 Kulczyk Holding S.A. (40%), registered and seated in Warsaw, was founded by dr Jan Kulczyk in 1991. In 1993 as a result of Kulczyk Holding S.A development, Autostrada Wielkopolska was formed and became the first private company in Poland to be granted a concession for construction and operation of toll motorways. In 2007 in the reorganisation of the dynamically developing group, Kulczyk Investments seated in Luxemburg was formed. At present the major Kulczyk Investments projects are related to raw materials, power and infrastructural sectors. The Company holds offices in London, Kiev and Dubai, and the Kulczyk Holding headquarters in Warsaw.<\/p>\n \u2022 Meridiam A2 West S.a.r.l. (40%), also holding 93% of the subordinated loans value. Meridiam Infrastructure is the leading investor in the crucial PPP projects, holding thorough experience both in Europe and in the North America. Meridiam manages three funds in the European and North American territory, of the total pool value of EUR 2 miliard. Meridiam suceeded in attracting long term investors such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank and worldwide insurance companies and pension funds. The company participates both in capital investments, and the mezzanine-type investments in the field of transport, public infrastructure and ecological projects in the PPP system. Meridiam achieved financial close of fourteen projects in the transport and public infrastructure sector in Ireland, Austria, Poland, Great Britain, France, Slovakia, Germany, Finland, USA and Canada. Considerable funds were earmarked for investment in Poland and Central \u2013 Eastern Europe, as a result Meridiam became the largest investor in the Polish PPP projects, with the capital outlays totalling almost EUR 300 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 KWM Investment GmbH (10%)<\/p>\n \u2022 Strabag AG (10%) – Strabag SE corporation runs business activity almost all over the world, as it has been active in the construction market for over 17 years. It counts among the largest construction companies in Europe and is a leader in the German and Austrian market and in Central and Eastern Europe. In Poland the company has been in business since 1985. Strabag currently employs about 6600 persons, and has been systematically increasing the number of field branches. The company major scope of business includes general construction, civil engineering and infrastructural construction (such as roads, railway infrastructure etc). In Poland Strabag consists in brand names such as Zublin, Dywidag, Polski Asfalt and Pl-Bitunova.<\/p>\n Interesting figures<\/strong> Background files for press: <\/p>\n
\nMotorway strengthens the region<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAdvantages for regions:
\n\u2022 Creating new workplaces: each motorway kilometer is assumed to create 88 new workplaces, as a result the new A2 section will bring over 9 thousand jobs to the regions;
\n\u2022 Increasing the price of land next to the motorway;
\n\u2022 Increasing foreign tourist traffic for business, sight seeing and entertainment purposes;
\n\u2022 Increasing the regions\u2019 touristic attractiveness;
\n\u2022 Increasing the number of companies directly related to the motorway presence;
\n\u2022 Profiting from cash generated in the region due to the motorway presence;
\n\u2022 Reducing traffic load and improving safety in national and local roads.<\/p>\n
\nA2: fast and safe<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 25 per cent of the budget correspond to environmental protection costs;
\n\u2022 85 per cent of the motorway to the German border crosses forest areas, including the sites protected under the Natura 2000 programme;
\n\u2022 Along the 106 kilometres section almost 200 crossings and culverts for large and small animals were built;
\n\u2022 Every 2 kilometres of the motorway emergency roadside telephones and environmental protection equipment are placed;
\n\u2022 The protection programme includes the monitoring of plant and animal habitats, ornithological monitoring of bat breeding grounds and beaver habitats, ant-hills protection and amphibians and reptiles rescue programme.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Infrastructural projects performed in the PPP system allow for higher efficiency owing to the involvement of private sector. The Autostrada Wielkopolska project is put into operation before the planned completion date, and during the project implementation no disturbances or irregularities were observed;
\n\u2022 62% of the project value was financed with the credit granted by the European Investment Bank; such EIB involvement in the infrastructural project has been the highest ever in Poland;
\n\u2022 About 26% of the project value was financed with credits granted by 11 foreign and Polish commercial banks (this is about EUR 400 million);
\n\u2022 The Concessionaire covers 12% of total performance costs (about PLN 186 million).<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Specially designed concrete pavement is about 30 cm thick;
\n\u2022 Over 1 million cubic metres of concrete were used to build the 106 km section;
\n\u2022 The total area of the placed concrete amounts to over 2 mln square metres, the area of almost 300 football fields;
\n\u2022 Concrete production plant was built near Nowy Tomy\u015bl especially for the project, to enable road workers working in shifts system to place 1 km of the motorway per day in favourable weather conditions;
\n\u2022 German machines adapted to working exclusively on motorways placed concrete on the whole width of a motorway carriageway, on both lanes simultaneously.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Works on the construction of new routes mainly concern the motorways (643 km), express roads (631 km)\u00a0 and by-passes (86 km). The 21 km of the existing network is currently under modification;
\n\u2022 The total of 29 motorway sections, 43 express roads sections and 12 by-passes in national roads are under construction;
\n\u2022 As indicated in the National Roads Construction Plan for the years 2011-2015 (January 2011) as at 15 November 2010, 1166.5 km of national roads, including 183.5 km of motorways, 293.1 km of express roads, 199.4 km of by-passes and 490.5 km of major modifications were put into service;
\n\u2022 From 16 November 2007 until 5 October 2011 agreements were concluded for 1950.7 km of motorways, express roads and by-passes. Of the 36 motorway construction projects implemented (totalling 783.6 km), 615.3 km were built in the traditional system, and 168.3 km in the Public-Private Partnership system. The agreements concluded for express roads, by-passes and major road modifications concerned 97 projects covering 1167.1 km.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 1995 \u2013 Participating in, and winning of, the two level international tender for construction and operation of the A2 toll motorway from \u015awiecko to Stryk\u00f3w;
\n\u2022 1997 \u2013 executing the Concession Agreement and further negotiating with the government to determine the project financial terms; execution of further 4 annexes to the Concession Agreement constituting the basis for approving and arranging the financing.
\n\u2022 1998 \u2013 excluding from the scope of financing and construction of the 13.3 km section of the Pozna\u0144 by-pass (financed from Phare grant, credit from the European Investment Bank, and funds from the State budget. The agreement was reached with the government to the effect that AWSA will build and operate the A2 motorway from \u015awiecko to Konin (the 255 km project was divided into phases:
\n– construction of the motorway in Konin \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl section (149.4 km)
\n–\u00a0 construction of the motorway in Nowy Tomy\u015bl \u2013 \u015awiecko\u00a0 section (105.6 km);
\n\u2022 2000 \u2013 executing the project and financing agreements (Financial Close) constituting the integral part of the Concession Agreement concluded with the government, defining the costs of performing the A2 in the Nowy Tomy\u015bl \u2013 Pozna\u0144 section, of which the total cost at the level of EUR 875 million (73 % i.e. EUR 637.5 million constitute direct costs of construction and design). This was a fixed lumpsum price for the complete \u201cturnkey project\u201d consisting in the fully equipped motorway prepared for operation, As the concessionaire, AWSA is not the A2 owner, but will perform its rights and obligations under the Concession Agreement during 40 years, that is until the year 2037. The land on which the motorway is built will remain the State Treasury property at all times, and the company pays a lease rent amounting to PLN 67 million each year;
\n\u2022 2002 – Putting the A2 section I Konin \u2013 Wrze\u015bnia (47,7 km) into operation \u2013 by upgrading of the section;
\n\u2022 2003 – Taking over the maintenance of the Pozna\u0144 By-pass Komorniki \u2013 Krzesiny (13.3 km); an untolled section for drivers who do not drive the A2 motorway in transit;
\n\u2022 2003 – Putting the A2 section II Wrze\u015bnia \u2013 Pozna\u0144 into operation (37.5 km)
\n\u2022 2004 \u2013 Putting the A2 section III Pozna\u0144 \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl into operation (50.4 km)
\n\u2022 2008 \u2013 Concluding with the government (MI) of the so-called business terms (MI) for the construction and operation of the A2 motorway section from Nowy Tomy\u015bl to \u015awiecko, which assumed executing financing agreements in March 2009 (the limit date deferred to the end of June 2009);
\n\u2022 2009 –\u00a0 Forming Autostrada Wielkopolska II S.A., a special purpose company (related with AWSA), to build and operate the A2 motorway \u015awiecko \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl (105.6 km) as required by the government party,;
\n\u2022 2009 \u2013 Executing the project and financing agreements concerning the construction and operation of the A2 motorway Nowy Tomy\u015bl \u2013 \u015awiecko (Financial Close);
\n\u2022 2009 \u2013 commencing the construction of A2 to \u015awiecko;
\n\u2022 2011 \u2013 1 December \u2013 opening of the A2 Motorway Nowy Tomy\u015bl-\u015awiecko to traffic;<\/p>\n
\nAWSAII is a special purpose company related to AWSA and founded to build and operate the A2 Motorway \u015awiecko \u2013 Nowy Tomy\u015bl. The company shareholders comprise: Kulczyk Holding S.A.(40%), Meridiam A2 West S.a.r.l. (40%), Strabag AG (10%) and KWM Investment GmbH (10%). Mr Andrzej Patalas holds the position of the President of the Management Board.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 EUR 12.2 mln\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 is a cost of building 1 kilometre of a fully equipped motorway;
\n\u2022 Over 1 mln m3 of concrete<\/strong>\u00a0was used to build a new A2 section;
\n\u2022 Over 2 mln m2<\/strong>\u00a0is the area of placed concrete (area of 300 football fields);
\n\u2022 88 new workplaces<\/strong>\u00a0generated by each motorway kilometre<\/p>\n
\nImpact of A2 motorway \u015awiecko – Nowy Tomy\u015bl on the economic development of the region<\/a>
\nA2 motorway \u015awiecko – Nowy Tomy\u015bl vs natural environment<\/a>
\nMotorways and express roads in Poland<\/a>
\nFinancing the A2 motorway construction<\/a>
\nPublic Private Partnership<\/a>
\nThe construction technology of the A2 \u015awiecko – Nowy Tomy\u015bl<\/a>
\nA2 Fast to Europe \u2013 the project key message<\/a>
\nThe influence of the motorway on international development<\/a><\/p>\n