A1 Motorway to be free on weekends

Last year the toll fees on the section between Toruń and Gdańsk were waived on August weekends following traffic jams sometimes stretching several kilometres in front of toll gates as Poles travelled on holiday to and from the Baltic coast.

According to the government, PLN 50 million (EUR 12 million) will be given this year to the National Road Fund to cover potential losses from waiving toll fees again.

Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz told a press conference that the motorway will not automatically be free every weekend this summer as this will be restricted to days with significant congestion.

She explained, “in the event that we judge that there is too much usage of the motorway, that there are or will be traffic jams, then the [toll] gates will be opened.”

Tolls may be waived from next weekend, and this may be done between 7.00 am and 10.30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Ultimately the decision whether or not to allow free access will be up to the managers of the relevant A1 section.

In 2014 usage of the A1 motorway peaked at 93,000 cars on the 17th of August, significantly above the year-round average of 37,000 a day. July 2014 had an average daily volume of 55,000 cars, again significantly above the year-round average.

Poland’s motorways, although few in number, have proved unexpectedly popular with drivers in recent years. According to Puls Biznesu, many sections currently experience traffic volumes higher than what was forecast for 2030. (sl/rg)

Source: PAP, Polish Radio