In connection with the commencement of the next stage of construction as part of the Tram to Mistrzejowice project, from 17 July changes will be made to pedestrian and bicycle routes in the area of Meissnera, Młyńska and Dobrego Pasterza streets.
Along the eastern part of Meissnera Street, on the section from Sttaniec Street to the Młyńskiego roundabout, a separate pavement and a bicycle path will be transformed into a common pedestrian and bicycle route.
Between the Młyńskie roundabout and the Polsadu roundabout, the possibility of pedestrian traffic will be maintained, and bicycle traffic will be redirected by a detour in general traffic from Pilotów Street to Bora-Komorowskiego Avenue.
On the south-western side of the flyover, a bicycle crossing and a pedestrian crossing will be restored (access only to the construction site). The crossing will allow cyclists to join the existing bicycle path on the western side of the flyover.
Along the northern part of Dobrego Pasterza Street, on the section from the Barei roundabout to Aliny Street, a separate pavement and a bicycle path will be transformed into a common pedestrian and bicycle route.
The new traffic organization will be introduced on July 17, from 7.00 a.m.
We would like to inform you about the commencement of the next stage of the reconstruction of the heating network along the western part of Meissnera Street and the partial closure of the pavement.
The works will be carried out on the section from Ugorek Street to the crossing in the area of KS Wieczysta.
After the completion of technological works, the pavement will be made available for use on weekends.
The expected duration of the works is about 3-4 weeks.
Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Work on Sudół Dominikański has been completed – the underground river is already flowing with a new current. At the end of June, the waters of the stream were introduced into a chamber in the area of Miechowity Street, and then flowed through the entire length of the newly built canal, i.e. 388.65 m (including chambers approx. 400 meters). The reconstruction of Sudół Dominikański was one of the most difficult engineering tasks of the first stage of construction.
The project related to the construction of a tram line to Mistrzejowice assumed the liquidation of the existing fragment of the Sudół Dominikański stream on the section from the intersection of Młyńska Street and Macieja Miechowity Street to the connection with the canal running from the Młyńskie roundabout to the Prądnik River. At the end of June, Gülermak, the general contractor of the Tram to Mistrzejowice, reconnected the river current to a new riverbed. The reconstruction of this section of Sudole Dominikański cost about PLN 30 million.
The construction of a new underground channel is one of the biggest engineering challenges we have ever faced. Work in the city requires precise planning to disturb the daily life of residents as little as possible and at the same time ensure efficient organization on the construction site – says Lidia Śmierzchalska, construction works manager.
Sudół Dominikański will now run under some of the pavements and roadways. The river changed its location by about 8-10 meters to the west. It flows in a specially prepared riverbed, which consists of 189 prefabricated elements with a length of 2.0 m and an internal cross-section of 2.25 x 3.0 m. The weight of a single element is as much as 10.8 tons. Gülermak engineers chose the technology, using prefabricated elements that were joined directly on site. Thanks to this, it was possible to stage the works as part of the project and minimize the nuisance for residents.
Sudół Dominikański in the previous current ran exactly in the place where we are building the tunnel and the new road system. This work front is now available to us. Thanks to this, by the end of August, we will build the western part of the roadway by the new Sudole Dominikański canal. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be redirected from the eastern part to free up space for the construction of the tunnel. As a result, we will be constructing diaphragm walls on the section Młyńskie roundabout – Polsadu roundabout – says Krzysztof Dziobek, contract director.
Intensification of works on the Mistrzejowice terminus
Meanwhile, intensive work is underway on the final section of the 4.5-kilometer tram line. In the area of the Mistrzejowice terminus, the voltage in the overhead contact line has been switched off. The wires were removed and the poles were dismantled. From Monday, June 24, the loop has been out of use. Work is underway on the dismantling of the track, which involves, among others: cutting rails, dismantling sleepers, unfastening rails from sleepers. Work is underway to remove the entire track infrastructure from the Mistrzejowice loop in order to start troughing the track for the new track. All works are carried out under constant sapper supervision, which will last until the end of works in this area.
The first preparatory work for the redevelopment of the technical infrastructure and the construction of the tram route will begin this coming Monday: 3 July.
In the coming weeks, our activities will primarily involve site preparation and the implementation of earthworks related to the redevelopment of underground infrastructure. These works will also involve cutting down trees in areas that interfere with the planned new routes of this infrastructure. Nevertheless, our primary goal is to avoid trees and shrubs that are located in areas where we are analyzing the possibility of making changes. This is aligned with the expectations of residents.
The mayor of Krakow declared on Thursday, 29 June, that within a month final decisions will be made on the possibility of taking into account the demands of residents. Until the answers are published, we will continue our work: avoiding areas that may be subject to adjustments.
At first, we will focus on work on the southeast side of the Polsadu Roundabout, heading towards the Młyńskie Roundabout. Then we will work in the area of Lublańska Street on the eastern side towards the Barei Roundabout, and later from the Barei Roundabout to Mistrzejowice. Finally, work will be carried out from the Młyńskie Roundabout to Jana Pawła II Avenue and in the area of Lublańska Street on the west side due to the consideration of residents’ demands.
Starting Monday, signs will be located along the route of the project: informing of construction works and tree cutting. In connection with the first stage of the temporary traffic organization, there will be local narrowing of road lanes and temporary exclusions of pedestrian and bicycle routes.
Every effort will be made to minimize inconvenience and ensure the safety of residents during the implementation of these works.
You can read about the first stage of the temporary traffic organization, tunnel construction technology and the role of the City Traffic Engineer in the latest issue of our “Informator” paper.
Already 15,000 copies of the latest issue of “Informator” have been delivered to the homes of residents neighboring the construction of the tram route to Mistrzejowice, passersby and drivers. At the end of May, we also handed out the newspapers to Kraków City Councilors and various public institutions to share important information about the upcoming construction.
In the magazine you will find news about the project, a letter from Kraków Mayor Jacek Majchrowski addressed to residents, and interviews with Magdalena Nowak-Obrzut, director of the Kraków City Roads Authority, and Paweł Motyka, deputy contract director at Gülermak.
The electronic version of the second issue of “Informer” can be downloaded below:
There is a green light to begin work on the construction of the tram route to Mistrzejowice. Following the handover of land by the Kraków City Roads Authority, the Private Partner will begin organizing the construction site and preparatory work. According to the current schedule, the new infrastructure will be ready by the end of 2025.
The project for a tram route to Mistrzejowice received permission for a road investment project (ZRID) on 9 May 2023. – Obtaining the ZRID is a milestone that will enable us to begin construction of the tram route. Like the residents, we have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” says Krzysztof Dziobek, contract director from Gülermak.
Changes to benefit users
Due to residents’ demands, the Public Entity recommended that the Private Partner make modifications to the original design. These resulted in, among other things, a reduction in noise intensity and the number of noise barriers. This was achieved by reducing the cross-section of Meissnera Street, which allowed additional space for green areas and plantings. In addition, thanks to the contractor’s commitment, it was possible to preserve an additional 200 trees that interfered with the planned infrastructure.
Earlier, the designers of the streetcar line extended the underground route under the Polsadu Roundabout and the Młyńskie Roundabout to more than 1.2 kilometers, and adapted it to serve the future “pre-metro”. The collision-free routing of the tramway at level -1 is important not only from the point of view of traffic organization at intersections, but also contributes to reducing inconvenience for residents. – The road to approval was bumpy, but the changes made took into account the needs of the local community and helped increase the benefits for all stakeholders,” Krzysztof Dziobek concludes.
In parallel with the design work, the Private Partner conducted negotiations to obtain financing for the construction and maintenance of the streetcar line for 20 years. The direct agreement signed in January by representatives of the parties to the project (Private Partner, Public Entity) and the financing institutions: European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Bank Pekao SA and the Polish Development Fund confirmed that the project meets the highest international standards.
Resident-friendly public transportation
Thanks to this investment, travel time from the northern part of Kraków to the center will be reduced by about 12 minutes, which will certainly improve the attractiveness of public transportation for residents. As a result, the projected car traffic on this route will be reduced. In addition, the safety of pedestrians and cyclists will be improved thanks to the adaptation of sidewalks and bicycle paths to current regulations. New plantings will appear along the entire route, and tree and shrub species will be specially selected for the demanding urban conditions. The project also includes the use of environmentally friendly technologies, such as energy-efficient LED lighting, track lubricators, “green stops” and “green track” using sedum mats.
First, the preparatory work
The start of the first works depends on the handover of the site by the Public Entity, which should take place in the coming weeks. After taking over the site, the Private Partner will proceed with the necessary preparatory work, which will take about 3 months. During this time, there may be local, short-term changes in traffic organization, of which residents will be informed in advance. In the next stage, work will begin on reconstruction of underground network collisions.
– In Kraków, we look at infrastructure projects in the long term. On the timeline, the implementation of the construction and the difficulties associated with it are only a prelude to a completely new stage of functioning of the revitalized areas. Although difficult, it is temporary and leads to a real change in the quality of life in the city,” says Jacek Majchrowski, Mayor of Kraków.
In the spring of 2023, once the RCC decision (ZRID) is obtained, construction works for the tram route to Mistrzejowice will start. If everything goes according to plan, the new 4.5-kilometer track section – made in the public-private partnership formula – will be completed at the end of 2025.
On 30 January, a direct agreement was signed for the investment of Stage IV of the expansion of Kraków Fast Tram. The agreement, signed by the City representatives, the contractor (Gülermak) and the financing institutions, finalizes several years of documentation work and works on financing the largest transport project in Poland to be made in the public-private partnership formula.
– The tram route to Mistrzejowice is the largest transport project in the public-private partnership model in Poland. The fourth stage of the Kraków Fast Tram expansion is a 4.5-kilometer route between the terminus in Mistrzejowice and the intersection of Meissnera and Lema Streets – says Jacek Majchrowski, the President of Kraków.
Shortened travel time to the city center
Tracks will run from the intersection of Jana Pawła Avenue with Lema and Meissnera Streets, then along Meissnera, Młyńska, Lublańska, Dobrego Pasterza, Krzesławicka, Bohomolca, ks. Jancarza streets up to the existing terminus of Mistrzejowice. The investment is worth a total of PLN 1.92 billion.
– This connection will shorten travel time to the city center by approx. 12 minutes. Trams will be launched here at the end of 2025. The route includes a tunnel with a multi-level transfer hub in the vicinity of the Polsadu roundabout – adds Jacek Majchrowski.
The biggest PPP project in Poland
Pursuant to the agreement signed in December 2020 between the City of Kraków (the public entity) and the consortium of PPP Solutions Polska and Gülermak Ağır Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt (the private partner), the latter is to secure financing, design, obtain the necessary construction consents and implement the tram route to Mistrzejowice. It will then take care of its infrastructure for 20 years. The city will take it over afterwards.
This is the biggest project of this kind in Poland. Kraków’s experience will serve as the basis for guidelines developed by other local governments wishing to use this formula to implement similar projects. The entity responsible for the project on behalf of the city is Kraków is Kraków Municipal Road Authority (ZDMK).
The European Investment Bank agreed to co-finance the investment. Other co-financing institutions are the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Bank Pekao SA and the Polish Development Fund (PFR).
– We are now waiting just for the RCC decision to authorize the implementation of the road investment. Actual works will begin in the second quarter of this year – says Jacek Majchrowski.
Kraków model for partnership
Public-Private Partnership is an investment model based on long-term cooperation of a public entity (e.g. a city, a commune) with a private partner. Benefits, as well as the responsibility involved in the cooperation, are split between both parties in line with an agreement whose purpose is to improve the quality of infrastructure and services available to residents.
– We realize that residents have been waiting for the construction of this route for a long time. We had this in mind in recent months while compiling hundreds of documents, holding complex negotiations and preparing to meet the stringent requirements of the financing institutions. Already today we can say that this unique project will set new standards and will be a role-model in Poland and across Europe. Working hard we adapted the project to the subsequent requirements set by the City of Kraków – we prepared the infrastructure to serve the future premetro and reduced the impact of the investment on the environment – says Bülent Özdemir, Country Director Poland with Gülermak.
The Kraków PPP model for the construction of KST IV assumes payment for the availability of infrastructure. This means that the city will pay a certain amount successively if the infrastructure is maintained to an appropriate standard and operational for tram traffic. As a consequence, we minimize interruptions in tram operations on this route.
The PPP leverages on the private party’s experience to build modern infrastructure and reduces investment costs throughout its life cycle.
Request has been filed for a Road Construction Consent (RCC) decision for the tram route to Mistrzejowice. Once approved, it will pave the way for launching the construction of one of key investments in northern Kraków.
The design stage of KST IV (Meissnera – Mistrzejowice) enters its key phase. “Recent months have brought major changes to the design from the point of view of Kraków residents. The infrastructure for the planned pre-metro and the tram at Strzelców street has been taken into account. This translates into time and money savings for future investment projects” – says Andrzej Kulig, Deputy Mayor of Kraków for social and municipal policy.
Although tunnel extension and underground turnout chambers at its ends impacted the design works schedule, the request a RCC decision was filed at the beginning of January. Since the tram route is implemented in the PPP model, the private partner – the consortium of PPP Solutions Polska and Gülermak – is responsible for completing documents necessary to launch the project implementation phase and for ensuring financing.
The construction of tramway route to Mistrzejowice to kick off in 2022
“The documentation has been compiled by a project team of several dozen people and after a number of analyses and arrangements, including with the owners of the networks at the site of the future construction site as well as with units responsible for the safety of road users or water management” – says Paweł Motyka, Deputy Project Manager at Gülermak. “We hope that thanks to the joint effort by the public entity and the private partner at the stage of the procedure for issuing the RCC decision, we will soon be able to enter the construction site”.
During the request for RCC decision procedure, the private partner will continue working on the design documentation, including: detailed phasing of works, permanent and temporary traffic organization in the investment area and the technical design.
Clean and passenger-friendly transportation
In line with the updated schedule, the residents of Kraków will benefit from the fast tram route at the end of 2024. Once operational, it will shorten the travel time from Mistrzejowice to the city center by approx. 12 minutes and will eliminate any changes and significantly improve public transport experience. The investment will also improve the safety of vulnerable road users – sidewalks and bicycle paths will comply with applicable regulations. New plantings have been planned along the route and the species of trees and shrubs selected will be resistant to harsh urban conditions. The solutions have been designed using environmentally friendly technologies, including energy-saving LED lighting, renewable energy-powered track lubricators, “green stops” and “green trackbed” featuring sedum mats. Some stops will have photovoltaic cells.
“Our project fully leverages on the benefits available under the PPP model. One key advantage is that it does not burden the administration’s public debt. This project model makes the private partner’s remuneration dependent on the availability of the new route which ensures high standard of infrastructure performance and maintenance for 20 years” – says Marcin Hanczakowski, Director of Kraków Municipal Road Authority (ZDMK).
Decision has been made concerning changes in the design in the area of Młyńskie roundabout. Partners in the project of construction of the KST IV tram route have agreed on implementing trackbed at -1 level which is an alternative option to the one planned initially. The changes are a response to the residents’ expectations and will ensure the project is integrated with the planned construction of premetro.
Initially, the tramway route to Mistrzejowice was to feature an over-ground trackbed in the area of Młyńskie roundabout. In the spring, analyses were launched to check the possibility of introducing changes to the design whereby the tracks would be below the ground level. Their outcome brings solutions where the tramway route is below the roundabout.
“One of the main reasons for this decision is that the city had approved the premetro study which provides for its joint route with the KST IV between Bareja and Młyńskie roundabouts. By adjusting infrastructure to this major investment, we are supporting further development of transportation system without the need to redevelop the one already existing” – says Marcin Hanczakowski, Director of Kraków Municipal Road Authority (ZDMK). “We also wanted the tram to pass through Młyńskie roundabout, a critical location, in a grade-separated way so that all traffic users can save time and travel safely” – he adds.
The proposed underground route option was supported by the residents as seen in the preliminary results of a survey made as part of the second stage of public consultation for KST IV. It was the preferred option for approx. 65% of respondents.
Longer tramway route at -1 level
Under the new solution, down ramps – leading to a shored excavation in which trackbed will be placed under Młyńskie roundabout – will be located in the area of Pszona street. Passengers will be using stops at -1 level on the northern side of the roundabout. The stops will be accessible via underpasses which the passengers can reach using stairs or elevators situated on both sides of Młyńska street. Trams will be entering the planned tunnel before Polsadu roundabout. Therefore, the underground section of the tramway line, including ramps, will be approx. 1,180 meters long.
“Passengers already know this solution from Mogilskie roundabout. The underground option will not only shorten the tram journey time, but also improve traffic organization in the area of the intersection” – says Paweł Motyka, Deputy Project Manager at Gülermak. “The biggest challenge for this design option comes from the location of a tributary of Sudoł Dominikański stream right under the roundabout. This requires the grade line of the tramway route to be under the tributary, at 9.65m below ground level” – explains Motyka. The basic option of the new solution in the area of Młyńskie roundabout involves the redesign of the existing road network on the ground to be a turbo-roundabout. Yet, analysis of the possibility of leaving the intersection in its current form is still performed. Each route has a consistent circulation system designed for pedestrians and cyclists. The cost of additional works is set at approx. PLN 135m. Their implementation requires the consent of the Kraków City Council.
Solutions designed as part of the KST IV tram route received a positive opinion from the team tasked with reviewing the safety of vulnerable road users. Wherever area conditions allowed, bicycle paths were designed on both sides of the investment and separated from pedestrian traffic.
The team – being part of Public Transport Authority in Kraków – started reviewing the KST IV design in June and allocated some time for collecting opinions from the residents. Intensive work has been made since then to adapt the infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists to the standards required by Kraków. Two meetings have been held between the designer and the audit participants while the review procedure ended with a positive opinion.
– The safety of vulnerable road users is a very important aspect of any project and designs are always reviewed by experts. The design of tram route to Mistrzejowice was no exception. We are happy the opinion is positive and now the designer will be analyzing the last comments – said Marcin Hanczakowski, Director of Kraków Municipal Road Authority (ZDMK).
The design involves the construction of new and partial reconstruction of the existing bicycle paths along the entire length of the tram route. They are planned on both sides of the route on the section between Lema–Meissnera intersection and the entrance to Water Park. They will be integrated with the infrastructure for cyclists in the areas adjacent to the project or they will enable smoothly joining the general traffic.
– For safety reasons – as much as possible given the area conditions – we followed the general rule of separating the bicycle and pedestrian traffic: the former one closer to the pavement, the latter on the inner side – says Paweł Motyka, Deputy Project Manager with Gülermak implementing the project. Whenever possible, the bicycle paths designed are 3m wide and safe geometric layout has been secured.
In the tunnel sections, pedestrians and cyclists may freely use the infrastructure at all levels. Spacious lifts have been designed for cyclists, people with reduced mobility and parents with prams to move between the levels. There are plans to build a bicycle parking lot at the Mistrzejowice terminus as well as numerous bicycle stands – their exact locations will be agreed at the detailed design stage.
A positive opinion from the team tasked with reviewing the safety of vulnerable road users in the city introduces the last remarks on the proposed solutions. The designer will be analyzing them to possibly take them into account. The sheets with the design are available at www.tramwajdomistrzejowic.pl/en.
