Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński said at an opening ceremony on Friday that the 1.4-kilometre tunnel under the river Świna "is part of Poland’s national interest.“
The tunnel, one of the longest such structures in Europe, is also part of Poland’s “drive to catch up with Western Europe in terms of standard of living,” the government said in a statement.
Kaczyński told those at the ceremony: “The construction and launch of this underwater tunnel will make life in Świnoujście more comfortable, connecting the city with the rest of the province and the country as a whole.”
He added: “It’s also a demonstration of the fact that the inability to undertake major public infrastructure projects in Poland is now a thing of the past.”
Kaczyński told his audience that “all of Poland’s regions, including Zachodniopomorskie," of which Świnoujście is part, "must grow and develop as quickly as possible.”
He declared: “That will be our policy, especially when it comes to Zachodniopomorskie province, which has strategic importance for Poland and the Polish people.”
Other notable new projects in Poland's northwestern Zachodniopomorskie region include the Baltic Pipe, a pipeline bringing Norwegian gas through Denmark to Poland, and a EUR 1.6 billion polymer factory in the town of Police, the government said.
Better transport, investment, new jobs
The Baltic Sea resort of Świnoujście lies on 44 islands, which until now could only be reached by ferry, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
This made commuting difficult, especially during the summer months, when the city is congested with tourists, and in adverse weather, according to officials.
With the launch of the underwater tunnel, "the situation will now change dramatically," allowing people to travel to and from the island city in just 3-4 minutes, reporters were told.
The tunnel was built in just over two years, at a cost of EUR 191.5 million, of which EUR 162.3 million was provided by the European Union and the remaining amount came from the city's own coffers, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The EU’s executive Commission said: “The tunnel is 1,440 metres long and will link the two parts of the city of Świnoujście, located on Uznam and Wolin islands. It will also facilitate transport between Poland and Germany, create new prospects for investments and job creation in the region.”
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl, ec.europa.eu