The national road network in the Frankfurt (Oder) / Slubice region is characterised by the motorway A12 or national highway N2. The classification as European road E30 illustrates its position for transcontinental east-west traffic with its final destinations in the Nether- lands in the west and in Moscow in the east. The transport axis B1 / N132 Berlin – Gorzow Wlkp. – Elblag via Küstrin-Kietz / Kostrzyn forms a further important interstate connection in the narrower studied region.
These connections and planned measures are presented below. We have refrained from a detailed presentation of cross-border road connections with local / small-area character as they have no significance for large-scale goods traffic.
European road E30 Amsterdam - Berlin - Warsaw - Moscow
The road connection to be classified as magistral for east-west traffic is configured as four-lane motorway west of the Oder. Qualitative restrictions exist in section AD Spreeau – AS Fürstenwalde West through the absence of a hard shoulder. The A12 leads into the motorway interchange Spreeau in the Berlin motorway ring A10 which is expanded to six lanes in the south-east perimeter.
Fig. 45: Route characteristics E30 Amsterdam - Berlin - Warsaw - Moscow ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS
(within studied region)
Amsterdam - Berlin - Warsaw – Moscow (E30)
Classification Motorway (D) A12, E30 National highway (PL) N2, E30 Expansion condition 4-lane motorway (D);
2-lane highway with hard shoul- der (PL)
Large-scale connection
Netherlands / Rhine-Ruhr – Ber- lin – Warsaw - Moscow
Significance / demand
Large-scale interstate road axis / high to very high demand Border crossing Frankfurt (Oder) - Swiecko Perspective Consolidation and expansion as
high-performance route in Euro- pean east-west traffic
Planning 6-lane expansion AD Spreeau – Frankfurt; consistent motorway Swiecko – Brest (until 2013)
A four lane expanded highway is available on a length of approx. 3 km up to the junction with the national highway N29 (Slubice – Krosno Odrzanskie) from the border crossing point on the Polish side. The interchange with substantial traffic from or in the direction of
Cross-border goods traffic –
results, potentials and problems in the Frankfurt (Oder) / Slubice region
Zielona Gora is level-free, however designed with simple connections for vehicles turning left (potential for conflict, restricted capacity).
Fig. 46, 47: Road condition E30 after the border crossing on the Polish side (with middle strip or crash barriers and full hard shoulder)
In the further course the profile which frequently exists in the national highway network of the Republic of Poland, with a lane width of approx. 3.50 m and a hard shoulder width of approx. 2.00 m is driven in both directions. The capacity is surprisingly high through the by all means flexible, albeit dangerous exploitation of the large road cross-section. According to own observations slowing traffic and even tailbacks merely develop in the few areas of roadworks, the speed limits can be achieved and exceeded easily as the traffic police do not control the area very often.
Fig. 48, 49: Quality of the N2 west of Rzepin as well as near Pniewy
Conspicuous is the strong wear and tear of the road surfaces owing to the by all means high volume of heavy goods traffic. Even relatively young asphalt surfaces are character- ised by partly strong lane grooves, with implications for road safety in particular when changing lanes and with excessive speed and lanes which are wet from the rain (danger of aquaplaning).
Cross-border goods traffic –
results, potentials and problems in the Frankfurt (Oder) / Slubice region
Fig. 50, 51: Marked formation of lane grooves in the course of the Swiebodzin ring road
Whereas towns such as Rzepin, Swiebodzin and in the further course of Pniewy can be bypassed generously and with regulated intersections, the traffic load of several small towns is to be assessed as very high particularly in the section Rzepin – Swiebodzin. Be- sides the noise emissions which are extraordinarily high through the volume of heavy goods traffic it can be noticed that it is only possible to cross the road safely at the pro- tected pedestrian crossings which are additionally marked by blinking warning lamps.
Fig. 52, 53: Town thoroughfare Bytyn of the N2 in the section Pniewy - Poznan
The four-lane motorway section of the A2 to Konin (length 150 km, bypass Poznan toll- free), which is liable to toll, has been available near the town of Nowy Tomysl, 105 kilome- tres west of the federal border by road, since 2004. The experts estimate that the rela- tively weak use up to Poznan is not just a result of the toll, but also the correspondingly di- rect further course of the N2 with satisfactory traffic flow, even after it crosses the N24 / N3 (Szczecin – Poznan) near Pniewy.
Cross-border goods traffic –
results, potentials and problems in the Frankfurt (Oder) / Slubice region
According to Generalna Dyrekcja Drog Krajowych i Autostrad (GDDKiA) the section of the A2 Konin – Strykow (near Lodz, further 100 km, four-lane) is to be released for traffic in December 2007. The plans envisage realising the further part sections in the relation Ber- lin – Warszawa by 2010 (Swiecko – Novy Tomysl) or 2013 (Strykow –Warszawa).
Fig. 54, 55: Building measures in the section of the A 2 Konin – Strykow
Source: GDDKiA
Highway Berlin – Gorzow Wlkp. – north east of Poland
The sections of the federal highway B1 and the national highway N22 which are near to the border were both improved until they were in an efficient condition in the last few years. Thus, investments were made in the amount of EUR 11.3 million in the years 2001- 02 alone e.g. for the expansion of the N22 in the section Kostrzyn – Gorzow Wlkp. How- ever, the direct border passage at the crossing Küstrin-Kietz / Kostrzyn is only permitted for vehicles up to 7.5 t, with substantial consequences for the demand for goods traffic.
Fig. 56: Route characteristics Berlin – Gorzow Wlkp. – north east of Poland ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS
(within studied region)
Berlin – Gorzow Wlkp. – north east of Poland Classification Federal highway (D) B 1
National highway (PL) N132 (N22)
Expansion condition Two-lane;
western Berlin ring four-lane Large-scale con-
nection
Berlin – Gorzow Wlkp. – Elblag (north east Poland); alternative route Berlin – Poznan via N22 Significance Large-scale interstate road axis
with regional significance and re- lief function
Border crossing Küstrin-Kietz / Kostrzyn Perspective Large-scale interstate road axis Planning Ring road Küstrin-Kietz under
construction; a northern ring road is planned in Kostrzyn
Cross-border goods traffic –
results, potentials and problems in the Frankfurt (Oder) / Slubice region
Border crossing Frankfurt (Oder) / Swiecko
This border crossing is of major importance for international traffic. The border crossing facilities were modernised and expanded in the last few years owing to the substantial problems with the clearance of the sharply increased traffic volume so that the following capacity is now available:
Facilities D > PL:
2 lane access route
Classification: right lane determined for trucks, left lane for cars
Expansion to 8 clearance lanes (3x car+trailer, 1x bus, 4x truck) in the area of the bor- der control point
Clearance facilities (counters) accessible from all clearance lanes
Varied opening of the clearance facilities depending on the traffic volumes and per- sonnel occupation
Facilities PL > D:
2 lane access route
Classification: right lane determined for trucks, left lane for cars
Expansion to 7 clearance lanes (3x car+trailer, 1x bus, 3x trucks) in the area of the border control point
Clearance facilities (counters) accessible from all clearance lanes
Varied opening of the clearance facilities depending on the traffic volumes and per- sonnel occupation
The time required for clearance has been reduced substantially through the expansion of the facilities. Whereas this does not as a rule exceed 30 minutes for cars, several hours nevertheless have to be scheduled in goods traffic. The substantial tailback of trucks regu- larly reaches a length of several kilometres, whereby this is mostly longer on the German side with on average approx. 4 km than with approx. 3 km on the Polish territory (expert’s observation, details of the German police).
Fig. 57, 58: Border clearance facilities on 2 August 2006
(on the left: direction PL, approx. 10:00 am; on the right: direction D, approx. 4:00 pm)
Cross-border goods traffic –
results, potentials and problems in the Frankfurt (Oder) / Slubice region
According to the information of the responsible Polish border patrol department respec- tively three lanes have been available for truck clearance (continuously) since the end of September in order to reduce the time required for clearance. In addition, additional per- sonnel will be made available and training.
Source: Brandenburg actual news 18.09.2006
Fig. 59, 60: Truck tailback in front of the border crossing Oderbrücke (German side and view direction east)
2.2.2 Further routes with significance for cross-border goods traffic between Ger-