Expressway S3 (Poland)

Expressway S3 or express road S3 (in Polish droga ekspresowa S3) is a Polish highway, which is planned to run from Świnoujście on the Baltic Sea through Szczecin, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Zielona Góra and Legnica, to the border with the Czech Republic, where it will connect to the planned D11 motorway. The total intended length is 470.6 km (292.4 mi), of which 404.7 km (251.5 mi) is open to traffic and 65.9 km (40.9 mi) is under construction as of March 2024.

Expressway S3 shield}}
Expressway S3
Droga ekspresowa S3
Route information
Part of E65
Length404.7 km (251.5 mi)
470.6 km (292 mi) planned[1]
Major junctions
FromŚwinoujście
Major intersections merge with A6 east of Szczecin

separation from A6 south of Szczecin
A2 near Jordanowo

A4 near Legnica
To D11 border with Czech Republic
Location
CountryPoland
RegionsWest Pomeranian Voivodeship
Lubusz Voivodeship
Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Major citiesSzczecin, Gorzów Wielkopolski,
Zielona Góra, Legnica
Highway system
S 2 S 5

The main section from Szczecin (A6) through Jordanowo (A2) to Legnica (A4) is completed. In was constructed from 2008 until 2021.

The sections from Legnica (A4) to the Czech border and from Świnoujście to Szczecin (A6) are partially finished and partially under construction, with planned completions in 2024.[2]

Route edit

Section Length Constructed Notes
ŚwinoujścieTroszyn 33.0 km (20.51 mi) Under construction – planned opening in June 2024
Troszyn, Parłówko, Ostromice bypass 4.2 km (2.61 mi) 2009 – 2012
Ostromice – Miękowo 22.1 km (13.73 mi) 2017 – 2021
Miękowo bypass 4.8 km (2.98 mi) 2009 – 2012
Miękowo – Rzęśnica 21.8 km (13.55 mi) In the 1970s with at-grade intersections,
Reconstructed 2019 – 2020
Rzęśnica – Szczecin Klucz 18.3 km (11.37 mi) In the 1930s by Nazi Germany,
Reconstructed 2007 – 2021
Concurrency with  
Szczecin Klucz – Gorzów Wielkopolski 81.6 km (50.70 mi) 2007/2008 – 2010
Gorzów Wielkopolski bypass 11.7 km (7.27 mi) Single carriageway: 2001 – 2007
Second carriageway: 2014 – 2017
Gorzów WielkopolskiMiędzyrzecz 37 km (22.99 mi) 2011 – 2014
Międzyrzecz bypass 6.4 km (3.98 mi) Single carriageway: 2004 – 2006
Second carriageway: 2014 – 2016
Międzyrzecz – Sulechów 43 km (26.72 mi) 2010 – 2013
Sulechów – Nowa Sól 44 km (27.34 mi) Single carriageway: 1985 – 1995, 2006 – 2008
Second carriageway: 2015 – 2018
Nowa Sól – Polkowice 33.3 km (20.69 mi) 2014 – 2018
Polkowice – Lubin 14.4 km (8.95 mi) 2014 – 2021
Lubin – LegnicaBolków 69.7 km (43.31 mi) 2015 – 2018
Bolków – Kamienna Góra 16.1 km (10.00 mi) Under construction – planned opening in July 2024[3] Includes two tunnels: 2300m and 320m long.
Kamienna Góra – Lubawka 15.3 km (9.51 mi) 2020 – 2023 The last 3 km are finished, but remain closed until the connecting D11 motorway is constructed in Czech Republic

History edit

Initial route plans (autostrada A3) edit

The autostrada A3 was a motorway planned from 1993[4][5] to 2001[6] that was supposed to be built in western Poland. It was planned to begin in Szczecin, link Zielona Góra, Bolków and end in Lubawka on the Polish-Czech border.

Some road maps published in 1990s had an approximate route of the motorway, which in some places were different from the final route of S3, most notably the motorway was supposed to form north-eastern bypass of Legnica[7] while S3 was constructed as its western bypass.

In 2001 the decision was made to build a lower standard "express road" as the traffic density was judged too low to justify a motorway.[8] One legacy of the road having been planned as an autostrada is that from the beginning it was being constructed on a completely new alignment some distance away from the old route of the DK3 road. This is akin to how most expressways in Poland are constructed nowadays, but in contrast to the standards of the 2000s when most of the expressways were being constructed by upgrading existing roads. Like other modern Polish expressways S3, shares the crucial properties of an autostrada, including physical separation, restricted access, all interchanges being grade-separated, and at least two continuous lanes in each direction as well as emergency lanes (hard shoulder).

Świnoujście – Szczecin edit

One section of S3 east of Szczecin (19 km) was constructed in the 1970s in an expressway standard of those times, featuring one-level intersections and a pedestrian crossing. It was reconstructed in 2019–2020 to contemporary standards, with the intersections and the pedestrian crossing upgraded to grade-separated ones.

S3 south of Szczecin overlaps with A6 motorway (see Autostrada A6: History of construction).

Szczecin – Legnica edit

A single carriageway was constructed in years 1985–1995 on the section Sulechów–Zielona Góra (27 km). Three short sections were constructed in years 2001–2008, also with the first carriageway only.

The first large section of S3 was the stretch from Szczecin to Gorzów Wielkopolski (82 km), opened to traffic in 2010,[9] followed by the stretch from Gorzów Wielkopolski to Sulechów (80.6 km), opened to traffic in 2013/2014. The new sections had two carriageways, separated by the older stretches (Sulechów–Nowa Sól, Gorzów Wielkopolski bypass and Międzyrzecz bypass) which still remained as single-carriageway.

In 2014–2017/2018, the expressway between Nowa Sól and Legnica (junction with A4) was constructed, and the second carriageway was added on the three older stretches.[10] The exception was the section Polkowice - Lubin, which was also contracted to be completed in the first half of 2018, but the deal with Salini Impregilo was terminated in 2019 due to extensive delays in construction. It was ultimately opened to traffic in 2021.

Legnica – border with Czech Republic edit

Signing the contracts for construction of all four stretches between A4 at Legnica and the Czech border was planned for 2014. However, in 2013 the officials announced that the section will not enter into construction yet, because delays in preparations in the Czech Republic meant that the connecting motorway on the Czech side of the border might enter into construction no earlier than 2018[11][12] (ultimately, the delays on the Czech side turned out to be even larger and the construction of the connecting stretch is expected to start in 2024 rather than in 2018[13]). Some of the money allocated for it has been re-purposed to build the S2 expressway in Warsaw.

Later the decision was partially reversed, and in 2014 two tenders were opened for the section between Legnica and Bolków. This part (35.8 km) was constructed in years 2015–2018.[14]

Two remaining design-build contracts for the section from Bolków to the Czech border were signed in October 2018. The section from Kamienna Góra to the Czech border was opened in September 2023. The other section remains under construction, with expected completion in the first half of 2024.[15]

Exit List edit

CountryVoivodeshipLocationkmmiExitNameDestinationsNotes
PolandWest Pomeranian VoivodeshipŚwinoujścieRoundabout near Warszów   DK 3 / E65Ystad via Ferry
  DK 93Świnoujście via the Świnoujście Tunnel
proposed northern endpoint of expressway
Kilometrage starting point
1ŚwinoujścieWarszówexit under construction as part of Świnoujście - Dargobądz section
Incomplete junction: no exit ramp Szczecin → Świnoujście; no entry ramp Świnoujście → Szczecin
2LNGŚwinoujście LNG terminalexit under construction as part of Świnoujście - Dargobądz section
3ŁunowoŁunowo
Świnoujście LNG terminal (planned)
exit under construction as part of Świnoujście - Dargobądz section
Gmina Międzyzdroje4Międzyzdroje  DW 102Międzyzdrojeexit under construction as part of Świnoujście - Dargobądz section
Gmina Wolin5DargobądzDargobądzexit under construction as part of Dargobądz - Troszyn section
6Wolin ZachódWolinexit under construction as part of Dargobądz - Troszyn section
Zachód means west
7Wolin Wschód  DW 111Goleniówexit under construction as part of Dargobądz - Troszyn section
Wschód means east
transition from national road   DK 3 / E65Northern endpoint of expressway section
8Parłówko  DW 107Kamień Pomorski
  DW 108Golczewo/Płoty
Ostromice
Gmina Przybiernów9BrzozowoBrzozowo
10PrzybiernówPrzybiernów
11BabigoszczBabigoszcz
Gmina Goleniów12MiękowoMiękowo/Stepnica
13Goleniów Północ interchange   S 6 / E28Gdańsk/Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów AirportNorthern End of concurrency with Expressway S6 (temporary)

modified trumpet interchange


planned extension of Expressway S6 will end here


Północ means north
14Goleniów Zachód  DW 111Recław
Goleniów/Święta
Zachód means west
15Goleniów PołudnieRurka/Goleniów/LubczynaPołudnie means south
16KliniskaStawno/Kliniska Wielkie
17Rzęśnica  DW 142Chociwel
   A 6 / E28
   S 3 / E65
Southern End of concurrency with Expressway S6 (temporary)
Road continues as common section of A6 autostrada and expressway S3 with kilometrage of A6
Szczecin6Szczecin DąbieSzczecin-Dąbie/Szczecin-WielgowoExit number part of A6 autostrada
5Szczecin Kijewo interchange  DK 10 — Szczecin-Centrum/Lubieszyn/BydgoszczExit number part of A6 autostrada

cloverleaf interchange


planned Expressway S10 will start here


Centrum means center
4Szczecin PodjuchySzczecin-PodjuchyExit number part of A6 autostrada
18Szczecin Klucz interchange   A 6 / E28 — Szczecin-Gumieńce/Kołbaskowo/BerlinSouthern End of concurrency with A6 autostrada
Semi-directional T interchange
Gmina Gryfino19Gryfino  DW 120Gryfino/Stare Czarnowo
Gmina Banie20Pyrzyce  DW 122Pyrzyce/Krajnik Dolny
Gmina Myślibórz21Myślibórz  DK 26Myślibórz/Krajnik Dolny
Lubusz VoivodeshipGorzów Wielkopolski22Gorzów Wielkopolski Północ  DW 130Dębno/Gorzów Wielkopolski-K-S SSE/Gorzów Wielkopolski-CentrumPółnoc means north
Centrum means center
23Gorzów Wielkopolski Zachód  DW 132Kostryn nad Odrą/Gorzów Wielkopolski-CentrumZachód means west
Centrum means center
24Gorzów Wielkopolski Południe  DK 22 — Gorzów Wielkopolski-Centrum/Wałcz/Gdańsk/Kostryn nad OdrąPołudnie means south
Centrum means center
Gmina Skwierzyna25Skwierzyna ZachódSkwierzyna/Deszczno
  DK 24 — Kostryn nad Odrą
Northern End of concurrency with national road 24
Zachód means west
26Skwierzyna PołudnieSkwierzyna
  DK 24Poznań
Southern End of concurrency with national road 24
Południe means south
Gmina Międzyrzecz27Międzyrzecz PółnocMiędzyrzeczPółnoc means north
28Międzyrzecz Zachód  DW 137 — Międzyrzecz/Sulęcin/TrzcielZachód means west
29Międzyrzecz PołudnieMiędzyrzeczPołudnie means south
Gmina Świebodzin30Jordanowo interchange   A 2 / E30Świecko/Poznańinterchange equipped with toll station
double trumpet interchange
31Świebodzin PółnocŚwiebodzin/Świecko/Poznań with access to   DK 92Północ means north
32Świebodzin PołudnieŚwiebodzin/Krosno Odrzańskie (southbound)
  DK 92 — Świebodzin/Świecko/Poznań (northbound)
Południe means south
Gmina Sulechów33Sulechów  DK 32 — Poznań
Sulechów/Cigacice
Northern End of concurrency with national road 32
Zielona Góra34Zielona Góra Północ  DK 32Zielona Góra-Strefa Aktywności Gospodarczej, Centrum, Osiedle Pomorskie/Gubinek/Krosno OdrzańskieSouthern End of concurrency with national road 32

Północ means north


Centrum means center
35Zielona Góra Południe  DW 282 — Zielona Góra-Racula/Zielona Góra-Stary KisielinPołudnie means south
Gmina Otyń36NiedoradzNiedoradz/OtyńIncomplete junction: no exit ramp Legnica → Niedoradz; no entry ramp Niedoradz → Legnica
Gmina Nowa Sól37Nowa Sól Zachód  DW 297Nowa Sól/Kożuchów
K-SSSE Nowa Sól
  DW 315Wolsztyn
Zachód means west
Gmina Nowe Miasteczko38Nowa Sól Południe  DW 333Nowe Miasteczko/Nowa Sól
Bytom Odrzański/Kożuchów
Południe means south
39Nowe Miasteczko  DW 333 — Nowe Miasteczko/Miłaków
Lower Silesian VoivodeshipGmina Gaworzyce40GaworzyceGaworzyce/Kurów Wielki
Gmina Radwanice41Głogów Zachód  DK 12Głogów/Leszno/ŻaryZachód means west
Gmina Jerzmanowa42Głogów Południe  DW 329 — GłogówPołudnie means south
Gmina Polkowice43Polkowice PółnocPolkowice/ChocianówPółnoc means north
44Polkowice Południe  DW 331 — Polkowice/ChocianówIncomplete junction: no exit ramp Zielona Góra → Polkowice; no entry ramp Polkowice → Zielona Góra

Northern endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway


Południe means south
Gmina Lubin45Lubin PółnocLubin-Stadion/Rawicz/Góra with access to   DK 36Southern endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway
Północ means north
46Lubin Zachód  DW 335Chojnów
Lubin-Centrum
Zachód means west
Centrum means center
47Lubin Południe  DW 333Chróstnik/Lubin-PrzylesiePołudnie means south
Gmina Miłkowice48Legnica Północ  DW 333Legnica/KochlicePółnoc means north
49Legnica Zachód  DK 94 — Legnica/ZgorzelecZachód means west
Gmina Krotoszyce50Legnica Południe interchange   A 4 / E40Wrocław/Jędrzychowice/Zgorzelecdouble trumpet interchange
Południe means south
Jawor51Jawor PółnocJawor/Nowa Wieś LegnickaPółnoc means north
Gmina Paszowice52Jawor WschódJawor/Strzegom/ŚwidnicaWschód means east
53Jawor PołudniePaszowice/SokolaPołudnie means south
Gmina Bolków54Bolków   DK 3 / E65Jelenia Góra/Prague
  DK 5 — Wrocław/Lubawka
Southern End of concurrency with european route E65

Southern endpoint of expressway section


planned Expressway S5 will end here in a new interchange
Gmina Kamienna Góra55Kamienna Góra Północ  DK 5Bolków/Kamienna Góra/Lubawkaexit under construction as part of Kamienna Góra Północ - country border section
Północ means north
Kamienna Góra56Kamienna Góra Południe  DW 367 — Kamienna Góra/Wałbrzych/Jelenia Góraexit under construction as part of Kamienna Góra Północ - country border section
Południe means south
Gmina Lubawka57Lubawka  DW 369 — Lubawka/Jelenia Góraexit under construction as part of Kamienna Góra Północ - country border section
Poland-Czechia border  D 11border crossing planned

Border with Czechia


Southern endpoint of expressway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References edit

  1. ^ Of these 18.3 km shared with A6 motorway.
  2. ^ Uchwała RM nr 108/2019
  3. ^ "S3 Bolków (Bez węzła) - Kamienna Góra Północ (Bez węzła) - Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad - Portal Gov.pl".
  4. ^ Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 28 września 1993 r. w sprawie ustalenia kierunkowego układu autostrad i dróg ekspresowych [Decree of the Council of Ministers on September 28, 1993 on establishing a directional arrangement of motorways and expressways], Dz. U. z 1993 r. Nr 92, poz. 424
  5. ^ "Map of planned network of motorways and expressways in Poland in 1993". Archived from the original on 13 January 2014.
  6. ^ Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 29 września 2001 r. w sprawie ustalenia sieci autostrad, dróg ekspresowych oraz dróg o znaczeniu obronnym [Decree of the Council of Ministers on September 29, 2001 on establishing a network of motorways, expressways and roads of defensive importance], Dz. U. z 2001 r. Nr 120, poz. 1283
  7. ^ Mapa samochodowa Polski 1:700 000 [Road map of Poland 1:700 000] (in Polish). Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Kartograficzne KOMPAS. 1996–1997. ISBN 83-904373-2-5.
  8. ^ "Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 29 września 2001 r. w sprawie ustalenia sieci autostrad, dróg ekspresowych oraz dróg o znaczeniu obronnym".
  9. ^ "www.gddkia.gov.pl". Archived from the original on 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
  10. ^ "Budimex, Mirbud and Mostostal Warszawa bid in tender for S3 ring road | the Best in Poland". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  11. ^ Południowa obwodnica Warszawy zamiast trasy S3 do Czech , Gazeta Wyborcza, Dec. 9, 2013
  12. ^ "Zamiast S3 będzie obwodnica Warszawy. Rząd zabrał nam pieniądze, a winą obarcza... Czechów". 17 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Revize slibů ministrů za ANO. D11 do Polska bude hotová o čtyři roky později, než sliboval Ťok". 20 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Polish Council of Ministers decision from March 4, 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  15. ^ "Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad - Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad - Portal Gov.pl".

See also edit