Poland’s Key Highways Face Major Disruption as A1 and A2 Overhauls Begin

Poland’s General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways is launching major infrastructure works on the A1 and A2 motorways, bringing sweeping traffic restrictions and lower speed limits.

Major Overhaul on the A1 Motorway Begins

Road maintenance crews are launching massive construction works on the A1 and A2 motorways, starting with a heavily deformed section of the A1 between Pyrzowice and Piekary Śląskie on August 6, 2026. Traffic on the first route will be shifted to a single roadway with speeds capped at 60 km/h, while disruptions will soon expand to the Łódź-Warszawa connection covering a total of 92 kilometers.

The initial contract targets over 3 kilometers of the southbound carriageway heading toward Gliwice. Traffic will be routed in a bidirectional pattern over a single lane in each direction on the opposite carriageway, with the project slated to run until the end of August 2027 under a 36.3 million PLN contract executed by Colas Polska and Antex II.

Eradicating the Danube Waves

The reconstruction is prompted by severe structural deformations dubbed Danube Waves by drivers, caused by swelling subsurface materials rather than surface wear. GDDKiA plans to completely excavate the pavement structure, sub-base, and upper embankment layers to rebuild a durable structure capable of lasting at least 30 years.

The comprehensive repair plan covers a 16-kilometer stretch of the A1 and parts of the S1 expressway near the Pyrzowice-Airport node, divided into 13 independent tasks with an estimated cost exceeding 700 million PLN. A parallel tender has also been launched for a 1.7-kilometer section near the Pyrzowice node.

A2 Motorway Expansion Between Łódź and Warsaw

Equally severe restrictions await drivers on the A2 motorway as GDDKiA initiates the expansion of the route between the Łódź Północ node and Konotopa near Warsaw. The 92-kilometer investment will see additional lanes added across 89 kilometers, while pavement and lighting are replaced on a 3-kilometer stretch near Łódź Północ.

The initial 17.2-kilometer contract between Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Konotopa has been awarded to Strabag for nearly 257 million PLN, widening sections to up to four lanes in each direction. The expansion addresses surging traffic volumes ranging from nearly 60,000 vehicles daily near Łódź to nearly 100,000 near Warsaw.

Traffic Restrictions and Energy Self-Sufficiency

Throughout the A2 construction, two lanes in each direction will be maintained using narrowed lanes, changed traffic organization, and a 70 km/h speed limit backed by average speed measurement systems. The upgraded section is designed to be Poland’s first energetically self-sufficient motorway, utilizing renewable energy sources and energy storage for lighting and meteorological stations.