20 March 2024
Why did Romania accelerate the construction of the road to the border with Ukraine?
In mid-2020, Romania started construction of the A7 motorway, which will run from Bucharest to the border with Ukraine. Interestingly, only 16 kilometers of road were built in 2023. The geopolitical situation contributed to the acceleration of work. Why? Because thanks to this road, Ukraine will bypass countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. This is especially important considering the strikes and blockades at the border of our country. Not only Romania will benefit here, but also Ukraine, as it will have direct access to Romanian ports. This will be a very important transport corridor. More than 3,000 workers and hundreds of construction vehicles were involved in its construction, and work lasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The motorway is being built in “emergency mode”. It is estimated that the road will be put into operation in the last quarter of 2024.
Consequences for Poland
The consequences for Poland resulting from Ukraine bypassing it may be serious. We are an important transit country for many goods moving to and from Eastern Europe. If Ukraine uses the newly built A7 highway, it will mean a reduction in freight traffic on Polish roads and in transhipment centers. Transport companies may lose their competitiveness, and seaports may lose their importance as transhipment points for goods from Ukraine. Additionally, reducing Poland’s role as a transit country may affect the Polish economy. Less traffic will translate into reduced profits for transport companies and slower development of logistics infrastructure.
