A Gordian knot of traffic in Silesia. Drivers will be stuck for months
In short:
Drivers in Silesia must prepare for exceptionally difficult weeks starting today
The Ring Road has been reduced to one lane
The overpass above Chorzów market remains closed
Traffic between Katowice and Bytom has been directed through narrow sections, signaling potential traffic paralysis
Silesia and road congestion
Starting today, namely Thursday, September 3, drivers in Silesia are entering a new road reality that—according to statements from local authorities—could mean weeks of serious congestion. The Road Ring Route (DTŚ), the backbone of transportation in this area, has been reduced to a single lane on the northern side in Świętochłowice. Meanwhile, Chorzów has closed the overpass on Nowa Street, one of the key detour routes for the viaduct over the market that has been closed for over a year. In practice, this means traffic between Katowice and Bytom is now confined to the narrow DTŚ route—especially since its technical condition has already been a source of concern earlier on.
The Świętochłowice city hall announced in the evening that work on the northbound lane of DTŚ is urgent. “Drivers can expect traffic difficulties, including significant congestion, especially during peak hours,” reads the city’s statement cited by PAP. The reduction from three to one lane in the area near the VW showroom is set to last at least a few months, and the local authorities are urging people to use alternative routes.
No alternatives to avoid traffic jams
The problem is that alternatives are disappearing. Chorzów has closed the overpass on Nowa Street above railway line No. 131, which since last June has taken some of the traffic after the viaduct along DK79 was closed. As Rmf24.pl recalls, it was “one of the key detours around the closed viaduct over Chorzów’s market square.” Now, drivers of vehicles up to 3.7 meters in height have been directed to Legnicka Street, where there is a narrow tunnel under the tracks. Higher vehicles must use a long, multi-stage route via Katowicka, 3 Maja, Żołnierzy Września, 75th Infantry Regiment, DTŚ, and local streets such as Górnicza, Racławicka, Gałeczki, Wojska Polskiego, Parkowa, and Kościuszki.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the viaduct over Chorzów’s market has remained closed since June 2, 2025. Chorzów Mayor Szymon Michałek decided to shut it down after receiving a technical report indicating that the structure “could fail or suffer a disaster at any moment.” An additional report from April this year allows limited traffic—up to 3.5 tons, with one lane in each direction—but the city does not intend to reopen it. “We are not inclined to decide on temporarily restoring traffic on the viaduct,” Michałek said during a city council meeting at the end of August, as quoted by Portalsamorzadowy.pl.
Accumulation of road construction work
Chorzów is planning a new road layout for the city center that will replace the existing overpass. According to authorities, two new bridges and new road connections will be built to maintain traffic between nearby towns. However, the old overpass won’t disappear immediately—its demolition will begin only after the new viaduct on Nowa Street is completed. Trams will continue to operate along the existing structure until then.
All these decisions are coming at a time when DTŚ—already overloaded by traffic diverted from DK79—is losing two lanes in Świętochłowice. As PAP recalls, speed limits were reduced from 100 to 70 km/h in previous months due to the deteriorating condition of the DTŚ overpass above railway line No. 131. Now drivers will have to deal not only with slower speeds but also long traffic jams.
Conclusions
Silesia is used to traffic jams, but what’s starting today could be a test of patience even for the most seasoned drivers. The narrowed DTŚ, closed overpass, inactive viaduct, and detours through narrow tunnels and local streets — this setup simply can’t function smoothly. And as the local authorities emphasize, the repairs will take months.
Oskar Włostowski