Port Access Investments

Implementations of investments that improve accessibility to the port from its hinterland are vital and indispensable for the development of the port in Gdynia. Failure to improve road infrastructure in the Polish section of the North -South Transport Corridor will make it difficult to attract cargo transported by road through Polish ports, including the Port of Gdynia. Multimodal transport technology is another element, which could be used to effectively compete with North European ports over high-value unitised cargo. The need for an improved accessibility stems from the fact that shippers and carriers continually assess service quality in ports through their effective hinterland connections.

In its endeavour to adapt itself to the realities on the market, the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. set out some important development targets in the recently accepted strategy. Completion of the Kwiatkowski Flyover is one of these targets and is aimed at connecting the Port of Gdynia directly to the main national and international road networks. This will eliminate port traffic from the city centre and direct it to the Tri-city Bypass and the planned A-1 Motorway. This investment will have a positive impact on the development of the Container and Ferry Terminals. Realisation of this investment scheduled to be executed in the period between 2004 and 2006 with financial support from EU Funds (European Regional Development Fund) and Gdynia Municipality.

Reconstruction of Janka Wisniewskiego Street will allow effective transfer of traffic from the Eastern Port to the Kwiatkowski Flyover. This is of major importance to the development of the Ro-Ro Terminal and consequently other future investments in the Eastern Port e.g. the Ferry Terminal. The Municipality submitted this investment project to the Strategic Operational Programme in the framework of ERDF for financial support. The Port is expected to contribute 50% co-financing of the project.
The scope of works in the project include the following: modernisation of the existing street from the Constitution Square through Solidarity - Polska Streets Junction to Kwiatkowski Flyover, reconstruction of junctions along the road and construction of a second double-lane road together with two new bridges.

The road network at the Wendy - Wisniewski Axis is a very important investment project considering the future development of various terminals in the Eastern Port. The investment will consist of modernisation and reconstruction of the road axis: Wendy, Chrzanowskiego and Polska Streets with the option of construction of a New Węglowa and New Polska Streets. A new concept for a New Polska was recently approved and architectural design works are underway. Analysis will be conducted and prepared by both the Port Authority and the Municipality of Gdynia. Costs of the investment will be shared between the two organs according to their transport communications need with the hope of securing a 50% co-financing from the EU Cohesion Funds. Analysis and projects will be prepared in the years 2003-2006 (e.g. results from the Interreg IIIB funded SEBTrans-Link Project) and implementations will take place in the period of 2007-2012.

Implementation of these tasks is indispensable in the upgrading the quality of the internal port road network, which in turn will enable the conduct of new investments in modern logistics activities e.g. ferry terminal or logistics distribution centres. The aims of these investments are:

- To prepare the road network in the area in order to fully restructure the Eastern Port;
- To enable the development of functions associated with road transport services,
- To Improve the road/ rail communication system in the Eastern Port;
- To limit collision points in the road/rail network.

Investments in railway infrastructure will enable efficient handling of railway wagons on the quays. It will also help to reclaim land that could be used to develop port-related activities.
Analyses and designs will be made within the framework of the Sebtrans-Link Project. Realisation of the above will be carried out in the years between 2004- 2006 and conducted in stages:

- Phase 1 - 2004-2006: main works within the administrative borders of the Port Authority. Estimated cost about 1 million Euro from own sources.
- Phase 2 - 2007-2015: works in the so-called "Międzytorze" area after conducting necessary analyses and obtaining the road construction permissions, with co-finance of EU funds.