End of tolls on A4. Starting in 2027, drivers will be able to travel without paying tolls. Tolls will remain in effect on sections of A1 and A2.
In the article:
- Why will the tolls on A4 Kraków-Katowice be abolished?
- Plans for expanding the congested route in southern Poland have also been prepared
- How many highways in Poland are still under the management of concessionaires today?
After three decades, an end to tolls on A4!
For thousands of drivers who regularly travel between Silesia and Lesser Poland, this means the end of years of having to stop at toll gates and pay to pass. The General Directorate of National Roads and Highways (GDDKiA) announced that it will take over management of the A4 highway between Katowice and Kraków on March 16, 2027. The concession contract signed with Stalexport in 1997 will expire one day earlier.
This means users of light vehicles, such as passenger cars and motorcycles with a permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tons, will no longer have to pay tolls to use the road. As the management emphasizes, once the section is taken over, “tolls for light vehicles will be abolished.”
This is a significant change on Poland’s road map. Currently, drivers of passenger cars already use all highways managed by GDDKiA for free. After the concession for A4 ends, this section will also join the network of free routes for users of light vehicles.
Years of dispute over toll rates on A4
The A4 highway between Katowice and Krakow has been the subject of discussions for years regarding rising toll costs. GDDKiA recalls that it regularly opposed further increases, pointing out their negative impact on both drivers and transport operators.
In a statement, the management notes that higher toll rates could lead to some traffic being diverted to local roads. It was emphasized that this might “negatively affect road traffic safety” on alternative routes. Meanwhile, GDDKiA states that it did not have effective means to block such increases, as long as they complied with the terms of the concession agreement.
A4 needs a third lane
The state’s takeover of the highway does not mean an end to changes. On the contrary. The A4 section between Katowice and Krakow has been included in the Government’s Road Construction Program until 2030, with plans extending to 2033, and it is set to be expanded.
The reason is simple. The traffic volume currently averages over 50,000 vehicles per day, making this route one of the busiest in the country. According to road officials, adding a third lane is necessary.
Preparatory work is already underway. The project is divided into three sections: Brzęczkowice-Byczyna, Byczyna-Dulowa, and Dulowa-Balice. Detailed technical solutions will be determined after the design documentation is completed. Initially, it is planned to use the wide separation lane of the existing highway.
Fewer and fewer toll highways
According to the authorities, Poland’s expressway network currently spans nearly 5,600 km. It consists of about 1,950 km of motorways and 3,643 km of express roads.
After the A4 section comes under private concessionaires’ management, only two toll sections on motorways will remain, namely A1 between Rusocin and Toruń, and A2 between Konin and Świecie.
Oskar Włostowski