A key episode expressway S61, connecting Łomża Zachód with the Kolno junction, was officially opened on Monday. This is the last part of the Polish Via Baltica route, running through three voivodeships: Masovia, Podlaskie and Warmian-Masurian. For now, one line of the almost 13-kilometer section with the bridge over the Narew River will be made available – describes the local website www.suwalki24.pl.
The construction of the last section of Via Baltica in Poland is scheduled to be completed in mid-2025
The second line of the Łomża bypass will be made available in the middle of next year. Only then will the construction of the entire 220 km long S61 expressway from Ostrów Mazowiecka to border with Lithuania in Budzisko. Thus, the Polish section of the international Via Baltica route will be ready, which is to lead through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and in the future will be connected with Finland by a tunnel.
One third of the road, which totals almost 1,000 kilometers, is located in Poland. Work on it is already in the final stages in our country, but unfortunately in the Baltic countries there are mounting problems with completing the road.
Lithuania will complete its section of Via Baltica in six years
In a few months, the Lithuanians are to hand over the last section of the road leading to Kaunas. The final stage of construction of the forty-kilometer section from Mariampol to the Polish border in Budzisko is underway. The work is scheduled to be completed next year. Ultimately, this route is to have four lanes and be adapted for civilian and military traffic. Thanks to it, you will be able to get from Warsaw to Kaunas and then to Vilnius without any problems.
Minister of Transport Marius Skuodis announced that once the work in this place is completed, all attention will be redirected to the construction of the Via Baltica road from Kaunas towards Latvia and to an alternative connection that can also be used by armyfrom the town of Łoździeje on the Polish border to Alytus and Vilnius. The entire Via Baltica road in Lithuania will be approximately 270 kilometers long. Construction completion is planned for 2030.
Latvia is slowly building the Via Baltica route. Americans can be bad
The situation is definitely worse in Latvia. There, only one fifth of the route has been built so far. Currently, the bypasses of Bauska and Ekawa are being prepared, which will facilitate travel towards the Lithuanian border, as well as a bridge over the Salaca River, important for travelers from Estonia. The crossing is scheduled to be completed in 2026. In turn, the Estonians intend to rebuild several dozen kilometers of their section of the Via Baltica route in the coming years.
The Lithuanian authorities indicate that Via Baltica is one of the most important infrastructure projects in the country's history. This road will be of strategic importance as it will ensure the country's security. There is pressure for the construction of Via Baltica, among others: United States. The route is considered crucial for the effective defense of NATO's eastern flank. The US administration indicates that narrow and poor roads may impede the movement of tanks, armored vehicles and heavy equipment in the event of a Russian attack on the Baltic countries.
Poland is building more roads (not only Via Baltica)
Meanwhile, work on further roads is underway in Poland. Polish transport does not live on Via Baltica alone. General Directorate for National Roads i Highways servesthat this year, 31 contracts have already been signed for the implementation of large investments, which will cover over 400 km for nearly PLN 15.1 billion.
At the end of September, contracts were signed, among others: for the construction of an over 11-kilometer section of the S16 Olsztyn – Barczewo route and the construction of over 16 km of the S17 route from the Piaski Wschód junction to Łopiennik on the border with Ukraine. A road will also be built on the S17 Piaski – Hrebenne route, which will connect Warsaw through Lublin with Krasnystaw, Zamość and Tomaszów Lubelski. Their total value is over PLN 1.3 billion.