In the group of the most important infrastructure projects 80% of key investments is implemented in accordance with the plan and at low level of risk, while in case of important investments the ratio is 65%. – according to the annual report of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism.
A comprehensive report on the Ministry of Sport and Tourism from the implementation of the investments of Euro 2012 in the period from March 2010 to February 2011 was accepted by the Council of Ministers and submitted to the Sejm. The document discusses in detail the status of preparations in three main areas – infrastructure, organization, social engagement.
The Ministry of Sport and Tourism mentions in the report that in 2010 the key investments were implemented: the stadium in Poznan, the section connecting the A4 highway with the S7 road in Cracow, as well as the second phase of route from Obwodnica Środmiejsca to Airport in Wroclaw. In January, the S8 expressway was opened on the section Konotopa – Powązkowska in Warsaw with a length of 10.4 km.
The PL.2012 company, established by the Ministry, coordinates a total number of 219 infrastructure projects directly related to the tournament, which are divided into key, important, and other ones. In 2010, of the 46 key investments the construction of 6 of them has been completed, of the 37 important investments the construction of one has been completed, and of 136 other ones the construction of 35 has already been completed.
The report stresses that, despite the continuation of difficult economic times preparations for Euro 2012 are progressing well, and the last year brought “visible acceleration and progress of preparations with particular regard to the progress of implementing infrastructure projects and consistent implementation of strategic organizational projects, with the issue of safety at the forefront”.
The most advanced works are visible in the construction of stadiums in Gdansk, Wroclaw and Warsaw. All the three facilities are in the final stages of construction and the completion of works is planned for June-September. However, the report is based on the data from the end of 2010, not taking into account the delays which occurred during the winter time of this year.
Many infrastructure projects are implemented with very tight deadlines, with the assumption that their completion and putting into use will take place at the end of May 2012. In this report, the risk associated with the timely implementation of the projects is referred to as “high.” This concerns mainly highways and expressways. Several threatened sections of highway will not be fully finished, however during the championships it will be possible for vehicles to drive on the sections.
The authors of the report also admit that the five investments, identified as key ones, will not be completed until June 2012. This concerns the A1 motorway Stryków – Czestochowa, the A4 motorway, the road connecting the airport with the stadium in Wroclaw, the construction of power line in Warsaw and the development of the laboratory of the Provincial Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Poznan.
When it comes to important investments that concern the organization of traffic during the championships the greatest risk is related to the modernization of the Airport in Poznan, because just at the end of February the investor had received the so-called environmental decision. Now Chopin Airport in Warsaw complies with the UEFA requirements, but overhaul works are being carried out and they are to be completed in September. The works at the airport in Gdansk are to be carried out until March 2012. The works at the airport in Wroclaw, where a new terminal is being constructed, are to be finished earlier.
The guests of the championships cannot expect significant reduction in the travel time by train. The modernization of the railway line from Warsaw to Gdynia will be finished until 2014 and it is not possible to reduce the travel time to 3.5 hours for Euro 2012. A slight improvement is planned for important railway from Gdansk to Poznan and from Warsaw to Wroclaw.
The report, prepared by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, has already been submitted to the Sejm, where next week it will be the subject-matter of the discussion of the Committee of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism.