Financing Motorways in Poland

Abstract

The distinction between Poland and other European countries in the case of motorways network density has grown during the past decade. The under-development of motorways and expressways causes an isolation of Poland from the rest of Europe. In spite of the acceleration of investment efforts in the last years, the difference between Poland and different European countries has still remained huge. Taking into consideration the length of motorways per 1 million citizens in 2000, Poland takes 27th place in the list of 31 European countries. The indicator for Poland amount to 10.3 km per 1 million citizens while the aver number for 31 countries is 106.3 km per 1 million citizens. In order to achieve this European average, the length motorways in Poland should increase from 523 to above 4,000 km, which would require an investment of more than 70 billion PLN (between 15-16 billion euros). The comparison of the development of the Polish motorway network with the condition in other new EU member states is a very unfavorable for Poland. In spite of the success in the process of transformation as well as positive legal and organizational changes influencing the implementation of investment plans, the pace of motorway construction from the 1990s onwards has still not been as dynamic as could be expected.