Nearly 424.6 mln zł from European Funds for the modernization of the Ujście Nysy barrage

The Oder River will benefit from improved conditions for waterborne freight transport thanks to two projects being carried out at the Ujście Nysy lock. On June 23, 2026, the Center for EU Transport Projects signed two agreements with the State Water Management Authority “Wody Polskie” covering the modernization of key hydrotechnical infrastructure on the Oder River.

The scope of the projects includes the modernization of the lock structure and its associated infrastructure, as well as the locks and control room, along with the reconstruction of the approach channels and other associated facilities. Both projects have received support from the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, and Environment 2021–2027 (FEnIKS) program. The total grant amounts to nearly 424.6 mln zł, with the total value of the investment exceeding 538 mln zł.

Improved Infrastructure on the Oder River

The planned work is crucial for maintaining the operational efficiency of the Oder Waterway. The modernization of the weir will allow for more stable water flow management, the maintenance of appropriate navigation conditions, and the safe discharge of floodwaters. In turn, the reconstruction of the lock and control room will increase the reliability of the entire waterway system and improve traffic management on the waterway. Completion of the project is scheduled for the end of September 2029.

The projects are modernization initiatives and do not change the waterway’s classification, but they significantly improve its functionality, safety, and operating conditions.

Benefits Not Just for Transportation

The significance of the investment extends beyond inland waterway navigation itself. The modernization of the infrastructure at the Nysa Estuary lock is intended to increase the resilience of this section of the Oder River to the effects of climate change, stabilize navigation conditions, and improve flood safety.

Mateusz Balcerowicz, President of Wody Polskie, noted that these investments are an important step toward enhancing the safety, functionality, and resilience of the Oder Waterway. He also noted that the modernization of key infrastructure elements will result in both improved navigation conditions and better water management during floods, while supporting the development of more environmentally friendly inland waterway transport.

European Funds Support Modern Transportation

Joanna Lech, director of the Center for EU Transport Projects, also spoke about the importance of EU support. She emphasized that funding from the FEnIKS program will enable the modernization of key infrastructure on the Oder River, improve navigation conditions, and strengthen the potential of inland waterways as part of a modern, safe, and more environmentally friendly transportation system.

– This investment is a very good example of how European Funds are supporting modern transportation today: transportation that is more resilient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. “Thanks to funding from the FEnIKS program, it will be possible to modernize key infrastructure on the Oder River, which will improve navigation conditions and strengthen the potential of inland waterways,” emphasizes Joanna Lech, director of the Center for EU Transport Projects.

The implementation of these projects is also part of a broader European trend in transportation development, based on infrastructure resilience, reducing the impact of transportation on the climate, and better integration of various modes of transportation. The press release also noted that new EU regulations on state aid are intended to make it easier for member states to support investments in sustainable transportation, including inland waterway transport.

Key figures:

• total value of the two projects: 538,077,573.81 PLN
• Total EU funding: 424,594,792.51 PLN
• beneficiary: State Water Management Agency “Wody Polskie”
• Source of funding: FEnIKS 2021–2027, Priority FENX.05, Measure FENX.05.07