Planned motorway unlikely to enhance preserve's beauty

Authorities in Augustów, in northeastern Poland, want to add a ring road to the West-East motorway, leading to Lithuania. They argue that lines of trucks driving through the town are a threat to its inhabitants due to traffic density and fatal accidents. Much as it is true, the ring road would have to go through Rospuda Valley, one of the best-preserved and most beautiful natural reserves in Poland. The habitat would be destroyed, while building a motorway through swamps would be long and costly. The investment does not comply with the EU rules on preservation of natural environments, which Poland agreed to abide by upon joining the EU. Environmental activists have suggested an alternative, cheaper and faster route that could receive financial support from the EU and would go just a few kilometers away from the valley, but local authorities are sticking to their guns. This is, of course, despite written protests from over 116,000 citizens, including many celebrities. Demonstrations against the proposed route will be held tomorrow in Poznań and Warsaw. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.3) J.L.