A long road ahead

Roughly 150,000 vehicles a day use the Trasa Toruńska bridge. Experts say that a section in Żerań between the railway sidings and ul. Jagielońska is in an extremely bad condition and might collapse unless renovated within the next couple of years. Janusz Rymsza from the Road and Bridge Research Institute (IBDiM), which recently produced a report, says it is not easy to keep the overpasses in good condition. "It is very difficult to say whether it makes sense to renovate them or to rebuild," he says.

The IBDiM passed the report to the Municipal Roads Authority (ZDM), which says it is preparing renovations but currently has no plans to close the overpass or ban lorries from using it.

It is also not yet clear what work should be done or when it will start. Adam Czugajewicz, a spokesperson for ZDM, is relying on the Director General of National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) in this matter. "The GDDKiA is planning to renovate both the overpasses and Grota-Roweckiego Bridge as well as Trasa Armii Krajowej and Trasa Toruńska. They will incorporate the route into the A2 motorway," says Czugaje-wicz.

The GDDKiA is already preparing documentation referring to the section between the Powšzkowska and the Marki exits. However, before they can begin renovations the Mazovian voivoidship has to make a decision concerning environmental protection. "Then we have to call for tenders so the works can be launched in 2007 at the earliest and end in 2009," says Andrzej Maciejewski, a spokesperson for the GDDKiA.