Budimex has completed the construction of the Łagiewnicka Route, one of the most important investments of the city of Krakow in recent years. As part of the contract worth about PLN 680 million, the largest Polish general contractor commissioned a 3.5-kilometer route. Construction works began in July 2018 and lasted until June 2022.
The contract with Trasa Łagiewnicka SA was signed by a consortium consisting of Budimex and Ferrovial Construction on 17 March 2017. The scope of work included the design and construction of a communication route from ul. Grota-Roweckiego to the intersection of Witosa, Halszki and Beskidzka streets . An important part of the investment was the preparation of a tram line that will connect the Kurdwanów housing estate with Zakopiańska Street. The investor concluded agreements for financing the project with the European Investment Bank and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.
Over 2 km, i.e. most of the 3.5 km of the road has been led in tunnels, the longest of which is over 700 meters long and is located between the Sanctuary of John Paul II and the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. In addition, new road junctions, noise barriers, bridges, footbridges and sidewalks were built. The course of the Wilga River bed and the course of the nearby Kraków-Skawina railway line were also changed. Bicycle paths were built along the entire investment, and a new tram line from Turowicza Street to Zakopiańska Street. Recreational areas have been created above the tunnels, in the vicinity of Zbrojarzy Street, m.in. skatepark, sports fields and playgrounds.
The construction of the Łagiewnicka Route required a comprehensive reconstruction of a highly urbanized area in the area of ul. Zakopane. At this point, the route crosses one of the main arteries leading out to Krakow and the railway line No. 94. Constant traffic maintenance was necessary on both roads. In addition, the Wilga River also flows through this area. – The works were carried out in many stages. In the first place, the structures necessary to transfer the course of the river to the new, changed riverbed were constructed in sections. This also required the construction of a temporary railway track with a river crossing for trains. After the “relocation of the river”, it was possible to continue work on the sections of road and tram tunnels that had previously been in collision, and then to reconstruct the railway line on their roof in the target course – says Cezary Łysenko, Director of Infrastructure Construction at Budimex.
Construction work was interrupted by heavy rainfall and flooding of the Wilga River. – The largest of them took place in August 2021. The Wilga burst out of the riverbed and flooded part of the construction site of the Łagiewnicka Route when the river embankments were not yet completed. After the resumption of work, we managed to raise the river embankment and make additional protections, which minimized the risk of flooding the route – adds Cezary Łysenko.
As part of the construction of the Łagiewnicka Route, a new tram line with a length of approx. 1.7 km. On the section of approx. 700 m trams will pass in the tunnel. The new tram infrastructure will improve the city’s public transport system and improve the living conditions of residents of the southern districts of Krakow.
– I believe that the construction of the Łagiewnicka Route is one of the most complex engineering contracts carried out by Budimex. The investment required the cooperation of specialists from many industries in the field of construction. At the peak of the project, approx. 450 people and 160 equipment units. Coordinating such a team was a big challenge – sums up Cezary Łysenko, Director of Infrastructure Construction at Budimex.
The construction of the Łagiewnicka Route paves the way for the construction of the western section of the so-called the third ring road of Kraków with the Pychowice and Zwierzyniecka routes. The new route will contribute to relieving traffic in the area of the very center of Krakow and will improve inter-district road traffic, which will translate into reduced exhaust emissions and improved air quality.
Basic technical information:
- Consumption of reinforcing steel: approx. 20,990,000 kg
- Concrete consumption: approx. 207,500 m3
- Number of diaphragm walls made: approx. 60,000 m2
- Number of excavations made: approx. 1340,000 m3
- Number of embankments and backfills: approx. 570,000 m3.
