Budimex Secures Contract to Construct Starogard Gdański Bypass
Budimex, Poland’s largest road construction company, has been awarded a significant infrastructure contract to deliver the long-awaited Starogard Gdański bypass along national road No. 22. The General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), Gdańsk Branch, selected Budimex’s proposal as the most advantageous in a competitive tender process. The contract, valued at PLN 358.93 million net, will be implemented under the “design and build” formula, with the completion date scheduled for the second quarter of 2029.
This ambitious project aims to transform regional traffic patterns, enhance safety for local residents, and improve travel conditions for road users passing through the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Once operational, the bypass will divert heavy transit traffic away from the centre of Starogard Gdański, significantly reducing congestion, noise pollution, and vehicle emissions in the town.
Project Scope and Objectives
The Starogard Gdański bypass is being delivered under the “design and build” model, meaning that Budimex will be responsible for the complete process — from preparing the detailed design documentation, through obtaining the required administrative decisions such as the ZRID (Decision on Permission for the Implementation of a Road Investment), to executing the construction works.
The investment will feature a single carriageway with an overtaking lane built in a 2+1 configuration, alternating between both directions to enable safe overtaking on the route. The new road will integrate into the existing public road network via modern turbine roundabouts, which are designed to ensure smooth and safe traffic flow.
The construction package will also encompass:
- Building several viaducts and bridges to maintain road continuity and allow local traffic and pedestrians to pass safely beneath or above the bypass.
- Installing ecological culverts and animal crossings to preserve wildlife migration routes and reduce the risk of roadkill.
- Erecting noise barriers to shield residential areas from traffic noise.
- Constructing retention reservoirs and rainwater pre-treatment systems to ensure sustainable water management and minimise the environmental impact.
- Delivering a road surface capable of handling vehicles with an axle load of up to 11.5 tonnes, ensuring durability under heavy freight traffic.
According to GDDKiA, the bypass will play a pivotal role in the broader transport network of the southern part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, enhancing both regional and national connectivity.
Strategic Importance for Starogard Gdański and the Region
Currently, national road No. 22 — which connects Gorzów Wielkopolski to Elbląg and serves as an important east–west corridor — passes directly through the centre of Starogard Gdański. This results in significant congestion, especially during peak hours, and creates safety risks for pedestrians and cyclists navigating the town’s main arteries.
By redirecting through-traffic, particularly heavy goods vehicles, to the new bypass, the project will bring multiple benefits:
- Reduced congestion: Local drivers will no longer need to compete with long-haul freight traffic for road space, improving daily commute times.
- Lower environmental impact: With fewer vehicles idling and braking in the town centre, noise levels and air pollution will drop.
- Improved road safety: The bypass will remove a major source of high-speed traffic from the urban area, decreasing the likelihood of accidents.
“This is an important contract for Budimex, both in terms of the scope of works and its significance for the residents of Starogard Gdański,” said Cezary Łysenko, Member of the Management Board and Operational Director of Infrastructure and General Construction at Budimex SA. “Our goal is to implement the investment in accordance with the highest standards of quality, safety, and environmental protection. The experience of our team, combined with proven work organisation, will allow us to deliver the route on time, improving travel comfort and relieving the local transport system.”
Design and Build: Efficient Project Delivery
The design and build approach offers multiple advantages over traditional project delivery models. Instead of separating design and construction into distinct contracts, Budimex will oversee both stages, streamlining coordination and allowing for optimisations during the design phase that can reduce costs and shorten construction timelines.
For this bypass, the approach will allow Budimex to integrate environmental protection measures into the design from the very beginning, ensuring that all wildlife crossings, noise reduction solutions, and water management systems are purpose-built rather than retrofitted.
Budimex’s Track Record in Polish Infrastructure Development
Budimex is a dominant player in Poland’s road construction market, responsible for building approximately one in every four kilometres of new expressways in the country. Its portfolio includes some of Poland’s largest and most technically challenging infrastructure projects.
In June 2025, the company signed a contract worth PLN 478 million to construct the second section of the S11 expressway between Ostrów Wielkopolski and Kępno — one of the largest road projects initiated in the first half of the year. These high-value projects reflect Budimex’s role as a key partner in delivering the Government Programme for the Construction of National Roads and the Programme for the Construction of 100 Bypasses, both of which are central to Poland’s long-term transport modernisation strategy.
Budimex’s work is not only focused on increasing road capacity, but also on ensuring that infrastructure investments contribute positively to economic development, environmental protection, and the quality of life for residents.
Economic and Social Impact
Infrastructure projects of this scale bring tangible economic benefits to their regions. In the case of the Starogard Gdański bypass, construction activity will generate jobs in engineering, construction trades, transport, and logistics. Local suppliers will also benefit from the demand for materials, equipment, and services.
Once complete, the bypass is expected to:
- Reduce travel times for long-distance drivers on the DK22 route.
- Improve the reliability of freight transport schedules by minimising urban traffic delays.
- Enhance the attractiveness of the Starogard Gdański area for new businesses and investors, who often prioritise locations with efficient transport links.
From a social perspective, the project will contribute to improved health outcomes for residents by lowering exposure to vehicle emissions and reducing noise-related stress.
Timeline and Next Steps
The project’s preparatory phase will focus on detailed design development and securing the ZRID decision — a crucial legal step in Polish infrastructure projects that grants the right to build and expropriates land for public road use. Budimex will coordinate closely with local authorities, environmental agencies, and the GDDKiA to ensure compliance with all regulations.
Construction works are expected to ramp up once the necessary permits are in place, with a planned completion date in the second quarter of 2029.
A Long-Term Investment in Regional Mobility
While the Starogard Gdański bypass is only one segment of national road No. 22, it represents a vital link in the broader transport network connecting Poland’s northern and western regions. By improving traffic flow and reducing safety hazards, it supports national goals for road safety, economic competitiveness, and sustainable mobility.
Budimex’s involvement ensures that the project benefits from extensive experience, modern engineering solutions, and a commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure that meets both present and future needs.
When completed, the bypass will not only transform mobility for the residents of Starogard Gdański, but will also strengthen Poland’s transport system as a whole — an enduring legacy of this major infrastructure investment.
