The tunnel in Swinoujscie is one of the most significant road investments carried out in the West Pomeranian voivodeship. The scope of the investment, with a total length of about 3.2 kilometers, included the construction of 1,484 meters of tunnel excavated using TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) technology, along with access roads.
The TBM, named by the city dwellers as “Island woman” ("Wyspiarka"), was the largest such machine used for tunnel drilling in Poland - the diameter of its shield measured as much as 13.46 meters. Tunnel excavation, carried out 24/7, was combined with the laying of concrete segments forming the tunnel casing. In September 2021, after six months of tunnelling, the "giant mole" reached the receiving chamber on Wolin Island, thus completing its task in the main part of the tunnel under the Swina River. The longest underwater crossing in Poland has been completed.
A 3-kilometer road that will make a substantial change
The tunnel in Swinoujscie is one of the most significant road investments delivered in the West Pomeranian voivodeship. And also the most eagerly awaited both by the city dwellers and tourists visiting the city. Thanks to the fixed link, drivers will not have to use the ferry crossing, so the time needed to travel between the islands of Usedom and Wolin Island will be shortened from dozens to a few minutes.
- The tunnel under the Swina River is the fulfillment of a dream of several generations of Swinoujscie residents, including mine - says Swinoujscie Mayor Janusz Zmurkiewicz. The dream is to finally get to work faster, to meet with loved ones with ease, to shorten the trip to the dream vacation, to welcome the guests who will not be tired of waiting for hours for the ferry crossing. As a resident and the mayor of this city, I am proud that we were able to bring about the start of this long awaited investment and its happy completion. We brought the city together, giving our little homeland a whole new beginning. May the tunnel serve us all for years to come and be our new window to the world.
- The opening of the tunnel in Swinoujscie proves that even complex, long-term investments can come to a happy end. The smooth implementation of this historic investment is due to the determination and commitment of all participants in this project - the client, the contractor, business partners, as well as the community of Swinoujscie, which believed in its success from the beginning. I would like to extend my thanks to all of you - said Piotr Kledzik, CEO of PORR S.A. - For us as a company, the completion of the tunnel is also a symbolic culmination of the 30th anniversary of PORR's presence in Poland. The crossing that connected the islands of Usedom and Wolin fully reflects our mission statement, which is: smart construction connects people - he added.
Facts and figures at a glance
| Project type: | Construction of the tunnel under Świna Strait |
| Scope of works: | Design & Build |
| Client: | Commune city of Świnoujście |
| Contractor: | PORR S.A., PORR Bau GmbH, Gulermak Agir Sanayi Inşaat ve Taahhut A.S |
| Contract value: | 913,8 m PLN gross |
| Time for execution: | 2018 - 2023 |
