Infrastructure: Construction in the fast lane
The General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure are preparing an amendment to current legislation which should make preparations for the Euro 2012 soccer championships significantly easier to carry out. On UEFA's visit to Poland last week, representatives of the football body criticized the country's slow highway construction. Some 700 km of freeway and 1,900 km of expressway need to be built for Poland to effectively host the event.
The Ministry's plans to improve transport were presented along with other targets during the summing up of the first 50 days of the Ministry of Infrastructure under Civic Platform.
Minister Cezary Grabarczyk said that, "among these targets is the realization of the government's road and highway construction plan." He stressed, "the roads we have to build for Euro 2012 will definitely be built."
GDDKiA and the Ministry are trying to cut the time needed to gain construction permits for roads from years to months. Once authorities have given a positive decision for construction, it will be impossible to halt work, which should keep environmental objections from holding up investments.
"Changes should be ready and presented within Q1 2008," said Ministry of Infrastructure press officer Justyna Bracha.
Minister Grabarczyk told the Sejm's Infrastructure Commission that the ministry would treat PPP as the primary method for road construction. "We want PPP to be used not only for the largest projects, but also for smaller investments of local governments. That is why we are working on our concession law," said Grabarczyk.
New legislation should help authorities cooperate with private companies, according to Andrzej Panasiuk, the Undersecretary of State and coordinator of works on new legislation in the Ministry of Infrastructure.
The ministry also plans to improve rail transportation. Grabarczyk announced that works on implementing high-speed train connections in Poland are being carried out.
