A4 autostrada (Poland)

(Redirected from A4 (Poland))

The A4 autostrada in Poland is a 669 km (416 mi) long east–west motorway that runs through southern Poland, along the northern side the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains, from the Polish-German border at Zgorzelec-Görlitz (connecting to the A4 autobahn), through Wrocław, Opole, Gliwice, Katowice, Kraków, Tarnów and Rzeszów, to the Polish-Ukrainian border at Korczowa-Krakovets (connecting to the M10). It is a part of European route E40.

Autostrada A4 shield}}
Autostrada A4
Route information
Part of E40
Length669 km (416 mi)
Major junctions
From A4 - Polish-German Border at Görlitz-Zgorzelec
Major intersections A18 near Krzyżowa

S3 near Legnica
A8 and S8 near Wrocław
A1 near Gliwice
S1 near Mysłowice
S7 and S52 near Kraków

S19 near Rzeszów
ToPolish-Ukrainian border at Korczowa-Krakovets - M10
Location
CountryPoland
RegionsLower Silesian Voivodeship
Opole Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Podkarpackie Voivodeship
Major citiesWrocław, Gliwice, Katowice, Kraków, Rzeszów
Highway system
A 2 A 6
Inscription made by Soviet soldiers in 1945: Водрузим над Берлином знамя победы (We shall hoist the flag of victory over Berlin); A4 west of Wrocław.
A4 west of Wrocław with repaved concrete surface
Southern part of Gliwice-Sosnica junction (joining A1 motorway, A4 motorway, national road 44, voivodeship road 902 and a local road exiting Gliwice) - the largest motorway junction in Poland, opened 2009-2010
A4 in Zabrze, opened 2005
A4 near Kraków (Zalas), opened 1980
A4, part of Kraków bypass, opened 2002-2003

The motorway between Wrocław and Kraków (270 km (170 mi)) was constructed between 1976 and 2005. The part from Mysłowice to Kraków is tolled (see Tolls).

The section from the German border to Wrocław (151 km (94 mi), not tolled) was constructed between 2002 and 2009, in large part as repavement of the old concrete motorway constructed from 1933 to 1937 (then the territory of Nazi Germany). The repaved parts are substandard due to lack of emergency lanes and the speed limit is decreased to 110 km/h.

The motorway from Kraków to the Ukrainian border (251 km (156 mi), not tolled) was constructed between 2010 and 2016, making A4 the first Polish complete border-to-border highway connection.

History of construction

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Some western stretches of this motorway were initially built as a Reichsautobahn by Nazi Germany in the 1930s under her interwar borders. After the Second World War and the takeover of Poland by the communist regime, with her new borders, the existing roads received minimal maintenance and upgrades and became notorious for their poor quality, a phenomenon similar to that observed in East Germany. In effect, the original road served in a virtually unchanged state throughout the whole communist period and the first years afterwards. Reconstruction between 2002 and 2006 removed the old concrete road surface (earlier, a short fragment of A18 was reconstructed between 1993 and 1995, of which 10 km (6.2 mi) are now part of A4), but some aspects of the 1930s standards of construction remain on the stretch from Krzyżowa to Wrocław; for example, the aforementioned section does not have emergency lanes, a feature that is to be added in the future.

The section between Katowice and Kraków was built from 1976 to 1996, and the section between Wrocław and Katowice from 1996 to 2005. Between 2006 and 2009, the section from the German border to the junction with A18 motorway was constructed, which completed a continuous connection from Germany to Kraków.

Also completed in 2009 was the first portion of the motorway east of Kraków (20 km). The original plan was to finish the rest of the motorway by about 2013, but because of the UEFA decision to host the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship in Poland and Ukraine and the resulting need to improve the road infrastructure connecting the two countries, the date for opening the motorway to traffic was moved up to June 2012. This ambitious target was not attained after multiple delays, some caused by the floods of 2010. In July 2016, the last missing section of 41 km (25 mi) between Rzeszów and Jarosław was completed. This meant the entire length of the A4 from the German border to the Ukrainian border was completed, making the A4 the first complete major motorway in Poland (second overall, behind the very short A8) and the first completed continuous border-to-border highway connection.

Sections of the motorway

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Motorway section Length Constructed Note
Jędrzychowice (border) - Zgorzelec 1.7 km (1.1 mi) 1994–1996 heavy-load trucks only in 1994, all cars since 1996
Zgorzelec - Krzyżowa 50 km (31 mi) 2007–2009
Krzyżowa - Bielany Wrocławskie 99 km (62 mi) 1933–1937 repaved in 2002 – 2006 (short fragment in 1993 – 1995); section without emergency lanes
Bielany Wrocławskie - Przylesie (Brzeg) 40.7 km (25.3 mi) 1997–2000 first carriageway built 1936 – 1938; reconstructed and second carriageway added in 1997 – 2000
Przylesie (Brzeg) - Nogowczyce 84.5 km (52.5 mi) 2000–2003 some unfinished construction before 1945
Nogowczyce - Kleszczów 17.9 km (11.1 mi) 2001–2003 first carriageway built 1936 – 1942;[a] reconstructed and second carriageway added in 2001 – 2003
Kleszczów - Katowice Murckowska 43 km (27 mi) 1996–2005
Katowice Murckowska - Mysłowice 6.3 km (3.9 mi) 1989–1996
Mysłowice - Kraków Balice 53.7 km (33.4 mi) 1976–1991 private operator and tolls since 2000
Kraków Balice - Kraków Wieliczka 24 km (15 mi) 1979–2003
Kraków Wieliczka - Szarów 20 km (12 mi) 2007–2009
Szarów - Tarnów 57 km (35 mi) 2010–2013 opened to traffic in November, 2012, in part with single carriageway only.[1] Both carriageways were fully opened in May, 2013.[2]
Tarnów Północ - Dębica Wschód[3] 34.8 km (21.6 mi) 2010–2014 opened Oct 30/31, 2014.[4][5]
Dębica Wschód - Rzeszów Północ[6][7] 41 km (25 mi) 2010–2013 opened in October, 2013
Rzeszów Północ - Rzeszów Wschód[8] 6.9 km (4.3 mi) 2010–2012 opened in September, 2012
Rzeszów Wschód - Jarosław Zachód[9] 41.2 km (25.6 mi) 2010–2016 originally planned to finish in 2012, delayed until 2014, then contractor abandoned the contract in January 2014 when 70% complete due to dispute with the government over financing. New contract was awarded in September,[10] with construction beginning in October 2014. Opened in July, 2016.[11]
Jarosław Zachód - Korczowa[12] 47.1 km (29.3 mi) 2010–2013 originally planned to finish in 2012,[13] opened in May 2013 (Jarosław Wschód - Radymno) and December 2013 (remaining parts)[14]
  1. ^ It continued from Kleszczów into Gliwice and today that section is National Road 88, while A4 bypasses Gliwice to the south

Route description

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CountryVoivodeshipLocationkmmiExitNameDestinationsNotes
PolandLower Silesian VoivodeshipZgorzelec0.00.0Germany–Poland border   A 4 / E40Border with Germany

Western endpoint of motorway


Kilometrage starting point


Western terminus of E40 continues towards Dresden
Gmina Zgorzelec1.81.11Zgorzelec  DK 30   DK 94 – Zgorzelec/Jelenia Góra
7.84.8Rest areaMOP Żarska WieśŻarska Wieś rest arearestaurant and motel eastbound
petrol station both ways
Gmina Nowogrodziec17.911.12Godzieszów  DW 296Lubań/ŻagańDK94 can be accessed by DW296
26.016.2Parking areaMOP CzernaCzerna parking areaparking only
Gmina Bolesławiec44.627.73Bolesławiec  DW 297 – Jelenia Góra/Bolesławiec/Nowa Sól
46.228.7Rest areaMOP Kraśnik DolnyKraśnik Dolny rest areaeastbound only
restaurant, motel and petrol station
49.830.94Krzyżowa interchange   A 18 / E36Olszyna/Berlintrumpet interchange
Gmina Gromadka56.034.85LSSE Obszar KrzywaLSSE Obszar Krzywa/SzczytnicaLSSE means Special economic zone (SEZ)
Gmina Chojnów62.038.56Krzywa  DK 94Legnica/Bolesławiec/Zgorzelec
Gmina Zagrodno66.641.4JadwisinJadwisin/WitkówekJunction will be removed in the future
Gmina Chojnów73.045.47Chojnów  DW 328Złotoryja/Chojnów
76.647.6Parking areaMOP StrupiceStrupice parking areaParking area will be removed in the future
Gmina Złotoryja79.949.6LubiatówLubiatów/ŁukaszówJunction will be removed in the future
Gmina Krotoszyce83.651.98Złotoryja  DW 364 – Legnica/Złotoryja
86.653.89Legnica Południe interchange   S 3 / E65 – Legnica/Jelenia Góradouble trumpet interchange
Południe means South
Legnica91.957.110Legnica Wschód  DW 320   DW 333 – Legnica/Jawor
Gmina Legnickie Pole97.060.3Legnickie PoleLegnickie Poleexit and entrance only eastbound
Junction will be removed in the future
99.661.9MikołajowiceSnowidza/Koskowice/Legnickie PoleJunction will be removed in the future
Legnickie Pole only signed westbound
Gmina Wądroże Wielkie104.765.1Wądroże WielkieWądroże Wielkie/Jawor/ProchowiceJunction will be removed in the future
112.169.711Budziszów  DW 345Strzegom/Rawicz
Gmina Udanin115.972.0UdaninUjazd Górny/UdaninJunction will be removed in the future
119.774.4Rest areaMOP JarosławJarosław rest areaexit and entrance only eastbound

parking, restaurant, and shower facilities


Rest area will be removed in the future
120.174.6GościsławJarosław/GościsławJunction will be removed in the future
Gmina Kostomłoty125.177.712Kostomłoty  DK 5Lubawka/Jelenia Góra/Środa Śląska/KostomłotyWestern End of concurrency with national road 5
Gmina Kąty Wrocławskie137.485.413Kąty Wrocławskie  DW 347Kąty Wrocławskie/Mietków
14Strzeganowice  DK 35Wałbrzychplanned interchange with DK35
147.491.6PietrzykowiceKrzeptów/WierzbiceJunction will be removed in the future
150.393.415Wrocław Południe interchange   A 8 / E67Wrocław/Warsaw/Poznań/Wrocław Airport
   S 8 / E67Kudowa-Słone
modified cloverleaf interchange
Południe means South
Gmina Kobierzyce153.195.116Bielany Wrocławskie  DK 5 – Wrocław
  DK 35 – Wałbrzych
Eastern End of concurrency with national road 5
156.096.9PPO KarwianyWestern terminus of toll section
PPO means toll station
Gmina Żórawina164.3102.117Wrocław Wschód  DW 395 – Wrocław Wschód/StrzelinJunction equipped with toll station
Wschód means east
166.0103.1Parking areaMOP Wilkowice (eastbound)
MOP Krajków (westbound)
Wilkowice/Krajków parking area
Gmina Domaniów178.5110.918Brzezimierz  DW 396Oława/StrzelinJunction equipped with toll station
Gmina Oława183.7114.1Rest areaMOP Witowice (eastbound)
MOP Oleśnica Mała (westbound)
Witowice/Oleśnica Mała rest arearestaurant
Opole VoivodeshipGmina Grodków193.7120.419Brzeg  DW 403Brzeg
  DW 401Nysa
Junction equipped with toll station
Gmina Olszanka200.3124.5Parking areaMOP Jankowice WielkieJankowice Wielkie parking area
Gmina Niemodlin218.7135.9Rest areaMOP Młyńskie StawyMłyńskie Stawy rest areamotel and petrol station
Gmina Dąbrowa222.0137.920Opole Zachód  DK 46 – Nysa/OpoleJunction equipped with toll station
Zachód means west
Gmina Prószków237.2147.4Parking areaMOP PrzysieczPrzysiecz parking area
Gmina Krapkowice244.1151.721Opole Południe  DK 45 – Opole/Racibórz/KrapkowiceJunction equipped with toll station
Południe means south
251.2156.122Krapkowice  DW 423 – Krapkowice/Kędzierzyn-Koźle/GogolinJunction equipped with toll station
Gmina Leśnica264.2164.2Rest areaMOP WysokaWysoka rest areaShower, restaurant (KFC) and petrol station
Gmina Ujazd272.1169.123Kędzierzyn-Koźle  DW 426Strzelce Opolskie/Kędzierzyn-KoźleJunction equipped with toll station
278.0172.724Strzelce Opolskie  DK 88 – Strzelce OpolskieWestern End of concurrency with national road 88
Junction equipped with toll station
Silesian VoivodeshipGmina Rudziniec287.2178.525Łany  DK 40 – Kędzierzyn-Koźle/PyskowiceJunction equipped with toll station
295.8183.826Kleszczów  DK 88Gliwice/BytomEastern End of concurrency with national road 88

Junction equipped with toll station


Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass
Gmina Sośnicowice299.7186.2Rest areaMOP RachowiceRachowice rest arearestaurant, petrol station
Gliwice303.5188.627Gliwice Ostropa  DW 408 – Gliwice/Kędzierzyn-KoźleJunction equipped with toll station
Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass
310.1192.728Gliwice Bojków  DK 78 – Gliwice/RybnikJunction equipped with toll station
Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass
311.7193.7PPO ŻernicaEastern terminus of toll section

Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass


PPO means toll station
315.5196.029Gliwice Sośnica interchange  A 1Łódź/Gorzyczki/Ostrava/Katowice Airport
  DK 44Tychy
  DW 902Katowice/Gliwice
Combination interchange
Western endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway
Zabrze320.8199.330Zabrze PołudnieRuda Śląska-Bielszowice/Zabrze/ChudówPołudnie means south
Ruda Śląska324.0201.331Ruda Śląska  DW 925 – Ruda Śląska/Bytom/Rybnik
326.9203.1Rest areaMOP HalembaHalemba rest arearestaurant, petrol station and shower
Chorzów331.5206.032ChorzówKatowice-Załęska Hałda-Osiedle Witosa/Ruda Śląska-Kochłowice/Chorzów
Katowice334.1207.633Katowice-MikołowskaKatowice-Centrum/Katowice-Ligota/SkoczówEastern endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway
Centrum means center
337.2209.534Katowice-FrancuskaKatowice-Centrum/Katowice-Brynów/Katowice-MuchowiecCentrum means center
339.5211.035Katowice-Murckowska  DK 86 – Tychy/Bielsko-Biała/Sosnowiec/Częstochowa
Mysłowice345.8214.936MysłowiceMysłowice
348.7216.737Brzęczkowice interchange    S 1 / E75 / E462 – Cieszyn
   S 1 / E75 – Cieszyn/Łódź/Warsaw/Katowice Airport
Western End of concurrency with european route E462
cloverleaf interchange
350.6217.9PPO BrzęczkowiceWestern terminus of toll section
PPO means toll station
Jaworzno359.0223.138Jeleń  DW 903JaworznoIncomplete junction: no exit ramp Kraków → Jeleń; no entry ramp Jeleń → Kraków
Toll junction, not equipped with toll station
361.2224.4Rest areaMOP Zastawie (westbound)
MOP Kępnica (eastbound)
Zastawie/Kępnica rest areapetrol station, motel, TIR, restaurant, carwash
364.6226.639Byczyna  DK 79 – JaworznoIncomplete junction: no exit ramp Katowice → Byczyna; no entry ramp Byczyna → Katowice
Toll junction, not equipped with toll station
Lesser Poland VoivodeshipGmina Chrzanów388.4241.340BalinOświęcim/BalinToll junction, not equipped with toll station
370.6230.341Chrzanów  DK 79Chrzanów/TrzebiniaToll junction, not equipped with toll station
Gmina Alwernia380.9236.742RudnoAlwernia/KrzeszowiceToll junction, not equipped with toll station
Gmina Zabierzów397.5247.0Rest areaMOP MorawicaMorawica rest areapetrol station, motel, restaurant, carwash
399.2248.1PPO BaliceEastern terminus of toll section
PPO means toll station
400.2248.743Balice I interchange  S 52Kraków
   DK 7 / E77 – Warsaw
Eastern End of concurrency with european route E462

Western End of concurrency with national road 7 and european route E77


trumpet interchange
Kraków401.7249.644Kraków Balice  DW 774Kraków John Paul II International Airport/Kryspinów/Zabierzów
406.4252.545Kraków BielanyKraków-CentrumCentrum means center
Gmina Liszki407.0252.9BridgeBridge over the Vistula River
Kraków408.1253.646Kraków-TyniecKraków-Tyniec
411.6255.847Kraków-Skawina  DK 44 – Kraków/Oświęcim
416.1258.648Kraków-Południe   DK 7 / E77Chyżne/Zakopane/Kraków-CentrumEastern End of concurrency with national road 7 and european route E77

Południe means south


Centrum means center


Incomplete junction: no exit ramp Rzeszów → Kraków; no entry ramp Kraków → Rzeszów
418.2259.949Kraków-ŁagiewnikiKraków-ŁagiewnikiWestern endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway
424.0263.550Kraków-Wieliczka  DK 94Tarnów/Kraków-CentrumCentrum means center
427.3265.551Kraków-Bieżanów   S 7 / E77 – Warsaw (proposed)/Kraków-WschódWschód means east
trumpet interchange
Gmina Niepołomice434.6270.052Niepołomice  DW 964Niepołomice/Wieliczka
Gmina Kłaj443.5275.653Targowisko  DK 75Targowisko/Kraków PółnocWestern End of concurrency with national road 75
Północ means north
448.3278.6Rest areaMOP KłajKłaj rest arearestaurant and petrol station
Bochnia457.1284.054BochniaBochnia/Nowe Brzesko
Gmina Brzesko466.9290.155Brzesko  DK 75Brzesko/Nowy Sącz
  DW 768Koszyce
Eastern End of concurrency with national road 75
Gmina Wierzchosławice487.5302.956Tarnów Mościce  DW 973 – Tarnów-Mościce
  DW 975Wojnicz/Dąbrowa Tarnowska
Tarnów500.8311.257Tarnów Centrum  DK 73 – Tarnów-Centrum/Jasło/Kielce/Dąbrowa TarnowskaCentrum means center
Subcarpathian VoivodeshipGmina Żyraków530.5329.658Dębica ZachódDębicaZachód means west
Gmina Dębica536.9333.659Dębica Wschód  DW 985 – Dębica/MielecWschód means east
Gmina Sędziszów Małopolski551.6342.760SędziszówRopczyce   DK 94/Sędziszów Małopolski
Gmina Świlcza564.9351.0Rest areaMOP BratkowiceBratkowice rest areafacilities (parking and toilet); further planned
570.3354.461Rzeszów Zachód interchange   S 19 / E371Rzeszów/BarwinekWestern End of concurrency with expressway S19 and european route E371

double trumpet interchange with unused northern end


Zachód means west
Gmina Głogów Małopolski574.4356.962Rzeszów Północ  DK 9 – Rzeszów
   DK 9 / E371 – Warsaw/Radom
Eastern End of concurrency with european route E371
Północ means north
Gmina Trzebownisko581.2361.163Rzeszów Wschód interchange  S 19Lublin
  DK 97 – Rzeszów
Eastern End of concurrency with expressway S19

double trumpet interchange


Wschód means east
Gmina Czarna593.1368.564Łańcut  DW 877Łańcut/Leżajsk
Gmina Przeworsk612.6380.765Przeworsk  DW 835Przeworsk/Lublin
622.5386.866Jarosław Zachód  DK 94Jarosław/Korczowa/Rzeszów
Gmina Pawłosiów631.7392.567Jarosław Wschód  DW 880 – Jarosław/Pruchnik
Gmina Radymno646.7401.868Przemyśl  DK 77 – Jarosław/Przemyśl
666.3414.069Korczowa  DK 94 – Jarosław/Rzeszów
668.9415.6Poland–Ukraine border   M 10 / E40Border with Ukraine

Eastern endpoint of motorway


Eastern terminus of E40 continues towards Lviv
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Budowa autostrady A4 pod Tarnowem na finiszu
  2. ^ http://www.gddkia.gov.pl/pl/a/12401/Dwie-jezdnie-na-A4-miedzy-Brzeskiem-a-Wierzchoslawicami Dwie jezdnie na A4 między Brzeskiem a Wierzchosławicami
  3. ^ GDDKiA info on A4 w. Krzyż - w. Dębica Pustynia
  4. ^ "Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad - Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad - Portal Gov.pl".
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ GDDKiA info on A4 w. Rzeszów Zachód - w. Rzeszów Centralny
  7. ^ GDDKiA info on A4 w. Dębica Pustynia - w. Rzeszów Zachód
  8. ^ GGDDKiA information page for A4 w. Rzeszów Centralny - w. Rzeszów Wschód
  9. ^ GGDDKiA information page for A4 Rzeszów Wschód - Jarosław (w. Wierzbna)
  10. ^ "Strabag builds section of A4 motorway in Poland".
  11. ^ "Radio Rzeszow". Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  12. ^ GGDDKiA information page for A4 Radymno - Korczowa
  13. ^ Podkarpacie: Mobilizacja na budowie A4 Radymno – Korczowa
  14. ^ Autostradą A4 do granicy - GDDKiA announcement
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