Construction of Chelm bypass with support from European Funds

Convenient connection to Ukraine and the transfer of transit traffic beyond the borders of Chelm – these are among the most important benefits associated with the now-completed construction of an almost 13.8-kilometer section of the S12 expressway. The investment has just been allocated nearly PLN 225 million from the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment 2021-2027 (EFICE).

The beneficiary of support from the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment 2021-2027 program for project No . FENX.05.03-IP.02-0005/25 entitled “Construction of the Chelm bypass within the S12 expressway” is the General Directorate of National Roads and Highways. This is the twentieth funding agreement we have concluded with this entity.

“The total value of supported investments is more than PLN 28 billion, of which the EU subsidy is nearly PLN 12.4 billion,” the National Highways and Motorways Administration boasted on its website.

• Maybe you would like to read: 20th investment with support from EFICE

Support for the construction of the Chelm bypass was granted under the ERDF priority FENX.05 Support for the transportation sector and measure FENX.05.03 Roads and road safety.

Relief for residents, convenience for drivers

The new, nearly 13.8-kilometer section of the S12 dual carriageway is expected to cost a total of more than PLN 645.8 million. The amount of qualified expenses is nearly PLN 265 million, of which EU funding accounts for nearly PLN 225 million.

It is a key component of the road infrastructure that is part of the Trans-European Transport Network, known by the acronym TEN-T.

The construction of the Chelm bypass will allow, among other things:

• Move transit traffic, including freight traffic, out of the center of Chelm,
• increase safety for residents and improve the comfort of their lives through significant reductions in noise and air pollution
• improve connections with Ukraine through the creation of a convenient transport corridor connecting Warsaw and Lublin with border crossings, in particular with Dorohusk
• Improve the quality and efficiency of road transport and ensure the free movement of people, goods, capital, services, increasing the external competitiveness of the EU and internal economic, social and territorial cohesion
• Increase capacity and improve traffic conditions in the transportation corridor by removing bottlenecks and completing missing road infrastructure.

Photo: GDDKiA

What will change

The investment includes:

• Almost 13.8-kilometer section of the S12 dual carriageway expressway
• Four road interchanges: Chelm West, Chelm North along with the Road Maintenance District, Chelm Okszow, and Chelm East.
• Necessary access roads
• Bridges, overpasses, flyovers and culverts that also serve as animal crossings
• Noise barriers to protect against noise pollution
• Rainwater drainage system
• Supporting infrastructure, including road lighting, sidewalks, bicycle paths or bus bays.

TEN-T and European Funds

Our Center has been supporting beneficiaries in the implementation of EU transport projects for almost 20 years. Since 2007. Poland has received a total of more than PLN 291.5 billion from European Funds for the development of this sector. A significant portion of these funds went to the development of the national road network, including the expansion of the TEN-T network.

• Maybe you would like to read: National roads in the TEN-T network and international corridors

As the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways reports: “The TEN-T network in our country will be about 7900 km long (a target to be achieved by 2050 – editor’s note), of which the core network consisting of priority links is about 3700 km long and is largely completed. We are to complete it by 2030 (…).”

In the next stage – by 2040. – is the construction of an expanded core network, which includes roads in the eastern part of Poland. Among them is the S12 road from Lublin to the Ukrainian border.

• Maybe you would like to read: Map of the course of corridors within the TEN-T network

One of the main sources of funding for these investments is the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment 2021 – 2027 program.

Operation of strategic importance

The project is also an operation of strategic importance for the implementation of the EFICE Program. It is a flagship project, making a significant contribution to its implementation and is additionally subject to special communication requirements. You can read more about projects of strategic importance on fundseuropejskie.gov.pl in the article: Operations of Strategic Significance of EFICE.