DK94 – investment in Olkusz enters its final stage

The reconstruction of DK94 in Olkusz is currently under way. Most of the installation work has already been completed, and the laying of the road surface and construction of retaining walls at the WD3 viaduct have commenced. In the coming months, traffic is planned to be transferred to the new carriageway – this is a key step that will allow work to continue on the northern carriageway while improving traffic flow, which will be directed to the newly constructed southern carriageway. A total of approximately 200 people and several dozen pieces of equipment are working on the construction site. The General Contractor is a consortium led by NDI S.A.

The investment covers the section from Grodzisk on Staromiejska Street in the area of km 294+898 to the intersection of Centralna Street and Pakuska Street at km 299+251, in accordance with the design mileage. The project provides for the extension of the road and the reinforcement of its structure, which will increase the load capacity of the carriageway to 11.5 tonnes.

So far, the reconstruction of telecommunications and power collisions, half of the water and gas pipelines and all sanitary collisions has been completed. Approximately 50% of the storm water drainage system has also been completed, including three underground retention reservoirs. Road and bridge works are ongoing simultaneously.

– At this stage, we are in the process of constructing the lower pavement structures and paving works. We have also started pavement works. At the turn of May and June, we began work on the construction of the WD3 viaduct, including retaining walls on the approach to the structure. Here, we mobilised equipment in the form of two pile drivers – said Tomasz Kawalec, Construction Manager at the NDI Group.

The WD3 structure, i.e. a road viaduct with a level minus one crossing, is one of the most difficult parts of the entire investment – both in technical and logistical terms. The work is being carried out in difficult ground conditions while maintaining active car traffic.

– When it comes to the construction of retaining walls, it can be said that this is the very centre and heart of our construction site. We are carrying out quite complex work using DFF pile technology, i.e. drilling in rocky ground. In the future, this will result in safe passage on National Road 94 at level minus one – reported Michał Barczyk, Contract Director at the NDI Group.

Approximately 200 people and several dozen pieces of equipment work on the construction site every day. The team cooperates with many subcontractors and remains in constant contact with the Contract Engineer and the Employer. The work is carried out according to schedule and in compliance with health and safety rules, which are particularly important when working in deep excavations and directly next to active traffic on DK94.

In the coming months, traffic on the first two kilometres will be diverted to the newly built southern carriageway. This will allow further work to continue and improve traffic organisation in the future.

In addition to the construction of a viaduct with retaining walls, two underpasses will be rebuilt and a footbridge over the DK94 road will be built along Szkolna and Cegielniana Streets. There are also plans to build collector roads and six intersections.

The leader of the NDI S.A. Consortium, acting as the General Contractor, is responsible for preparing the as-built documentation and obtaining the occupancy permit on behalf of the Investor – the Krakow branch of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways. The value of the investment is almost PLN 217.5 million.