Expressway S19 is a project of key importance for transport accessibility in south-eastern Poland. It is part of the Via Carpatia corridor, a flagship transportation project that will connect the Baltic countries with southern Europe. The route will increase driving safety, shorten journey times, and relieve pressure on communities located along existing transit corridors. It will also improve quality of life for residents by modernizing connectivity across the region.
Improving transportation quality is a critical driver of economic development for eastern Poland. By shifting transit traffic to a modern, environmentally compliant route, the project embodies a broader transportation revolution that places safety, sustainability, and efficiency at the forefront. This is one of the largest transport modernization efforts currently underway in the country.
Construction of Expressway S19 began in 2005. Arcadis has cooperated with GDDKiA (the General Directorate for National Roads and Highways) from the very beginning, contributing to the route development process. We were involved in designing and obtaining required decisions for three sections: Podgórze–Kamień, Kamień–Sokołów, and Sokołów–Stobierna along the Lublin–Rzeszów corridor. Each section has been, or will be, delivered using the Design–Build method.
Our scope included designing S-class roads, transverse and access roads, engineering structures such as bridges and viaducts, junctions, service areas, acoustic barriers, rainwater treatment systems, animal crossings, and screens protecting bat habitats. Several challenges emerged during the design process. In the Sokołów–Stobierna section, the planned route intersected with a 750 kV transmission line, requiring a complete rebuild. The route also passed through inhabited zones, such as Nienadówka, which required demolition planning.
In the Kamień–Sokołów section, a Traffic Management Center was established within the Road Maintenance Division—an interactive operations hub with real-time video wall monitoring to oversee tunnels, manage traffic flow, and update variable message signs.
The completion of Expressway S19 in the Lublin – Rzeszów section is planned for 2022.
Every expressway represents a step-change in mobility, and Expressway S19 is no exception. It reduces pressure on national and local road systems, improves safety, enhances comfort, and supports more sustainable travel. For the Lublin and Subcarpathian regions—areas historically underserved by major highways—the new route will serve as a transformative development catalyst. Investments near the corridor are expected to accelerate, increasing the value and attractiveness of surrounding lands.
Expressway S19 will also form a critical link between Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece as part of the TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) corridor, further strengthening transport accessibility and interregional connectivity. Once completed, the south-eastern region will gain a direct expressway connection to Warsaw. The new route intersects Highway A4, which connects Ukraine with Germany, and complements Highway A2, Poland’s primary east–west axis.
At Arcadis, we have a lot of experience of designing highways and expressways. We are the ideal partner for both the client and contractors – we have a team of qualified experts in all of the required fields. Our partners know that if they hire us to carry out the design work, they can be sure of the highest quality and timeliness of the work. The know-how of our experts translates into the efficient performance of design work and real savings.
Create a better future with us
