Closer to the East through 'Berlinka'

The road Elblag- Kaliningrad also known as 'Berlinka', is currently under intensive reconstruction. After the reconstruction is finished - which is believed to be in the beginning of 2006 - the road is going to be the shortest route from western Europe to north-western parts of Russia and Baltic States.

It will be 150 km shorter than the existing road through Bezledy border crossing. It will also lessen traffic on the road which leads to the border crossing at Gronowo. This 100-km motorway was built in 1938 and was supposed to be the first section of the 'passageway' to connect the capital Berlin with the then Eastern Prussia. The road underwent severe destruction during WW2.

The idea to rebuild the road first appeared during the visit of Swedish ambassador in Elblag. The idea was taken up by the Mayor of Elblag as the road becomes a great opportunity for Elblag to attract investors who want to cooperate with the East.

The effect of this activity is the reconstructed bridges which were ready in the fall of 2003. Another effect is the Polish-Russian agreement of June 27, 2004 providing for the reconstruction of the Elblag-Kaliningrad road together with the construction of the new border crossing Grzechotki-Mamonowo II. The whole complex is going to be ready by the end of March 2006.

Simultaneously, Elblag authorities have been carrying out the construction of a two-level road junction with 3 flyovers joining Elblag exit roads with Warsaw-Gdansk state road no.7 and Elblag-Kaliningrad road 'Berlinka'. The project has been being executed irrespective of the reconstruction of 'Berlinka' which is scheduled to be ready at the begining of 2006.

It is now however that Elblag authorities are observing the growing interest in the possibility of investing in the area along the road. Every week potential investors from Poland and abroad express their attention to the new opportunities. They announce the construction of logistic, shipping and warehousing centres, hotels and restaurants but also production plants. Many of them were attracted by the new bridge over the Elblag river. Not only does the bridge shorten the distance between state road no. 7 and Kaliningrad but also proves Elblag to be effective in its ambition to become Polish and European gate to Kaliningrad District and north-western Russia.