Autostrada A4 (Poland)
Encyclopedia
The autostrada A4 in Poland
is a motorway which runs from west to east through southern Poland, from the Polish-German
border in Zgorzelec
(connecting to the German A4 autobahn), through Wrocław, Katowice
, Kraków
, Tarnów
, and Rzeszów
to the Polish-Ukrainian
border at Korczowa
. The motorway is a part of the European route E40
. As of December, 2009 about 444 km (275.9 mi) of the motorway have been completed, out of the planned total length of 670 km (416.3 mi). The section already completed, essentially the western two-thirds of the motorway, runs continuously from the border with Germany to Szarów
, located just east of Kraków
. The construction of the remaining section has started in 2010 and should finish in 2012 (with the exception of one 21 km stretch delayed until 2013).
in the 1930s. After the war, when the new borders placed them in Poland, they received minimal maintenance and upgrades, becoming notorious for the bad quality of their road surfaces, a phenomenon similar to that observed in East Germany
. Extensive reconstruction, especially of the section between Legnica
and Wrocław, has removed all traces of the old concrete road surface, but some aspects of 1930s standards of construction remain; for example, the aforementioned stretch does not have an emergency lane, a feature that is to be added in the future.
The section between Kraków
and Katowice
was built from the 1980s to 1996 and the section from Wrocław to Katowice between 2000 and 2005. In August 2009 construction of the last western part of the motorway from the border with Germany to the junction with A18 motorway
was completed. Also, in 2009 the first part of the motorway east of Kraków (ending on national road 75 junction, near Szarów) was finished.
The original plan was to finish the motorway by about 2013, but because of the UEFA
decision to host the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship
in Poland and Ukraine and the resulting need for better road infrastructure connecting the two countries, the date was moved up to 2012. This target is ambitious and may not be attained if there are any unexpected delays encountered during construction. An additional 57 km (35.4 mi) from Szarów to Tarnów should be finished in the second half of 2011; currently the companies that will build it are being selected in a bidding process. The section from Tarnów to the border with Ukraine has been in various stages of planning, with its route finalized and preparations for setting up bidding for contracts underway. The contracts for designing and building the 47 km (29.2 mi) long section from Jarosław to the border of Ukraine (divided into two segments, with different companies building each) were signed in the fall of 2009, with completion scheduled for April 2012.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
is a motorway which runs from west to east through southern Poland, from the Polish-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
border in Zgorzelec
Zgorzelec
Zgorzelec is a town in south-western Poland with 33,278 inhabitants . It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Zgorzelec County, and also of the smaller district of Gmina Zgorzelec...
(connecting to the German A4 autobahn), through Wrocław, Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
, Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
, and Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
to the Polish-Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
border at Korczowa
Korczowa
Korczowa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Radymno, within Jarosław County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine....
. The motorway is a part of the European route E40
European route E40
European route E 40 is the longest European route, more than long, connecting Calais in France via Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with Ridder in Kazakhstan near the border to China....
. As of December, 2009 about 444 km (275.9 mi) of the motorway have been completed, out of the planned total length of 670 km (416.3 mi). The section already completed, essentially the western two-thirds of the motorway, runs continuously from the border with Germany to Szarów
Szarów, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Szarów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kłaj, within Wieliczka County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately east of Wieliczka and east of the regional capital Kraków....
, located just east of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. The construction of the remaining section has started in 2010 and should finish in 2012 (with the exception of one 21 km stretch delayed until 2013).
History of construction and plans for the future
Large stretches of this motorway were initially built as a Reichsautobahn by Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in the 1930s. After the war, when the new borders placed them in Poland, they received minimal maintenance and upgrades, becoming notorious for the bad quality of their road surfaces, a phenomenon similar to that observed in East Germany
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
. Extensive reconstruction, especially of the section between Legnica
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
and Wrocław, has removed all traces of the old concrete road surface, but some aspects of 1930s standards of construction remain; for example, the aforementioned stretch does not have an emergency lane, a feature that is to be added in the future.
The section between Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
and Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
was built from the 1980s to 1996 and the section from Wrocław to Katowice between 2000 and 2005. In August 2009 construction of the last western part of the motorway from the border with Germany to the junction with A18 motorway
Autostrada A18 (Poland)
Autostrada A18 is a short planned motorway in southwestern Poland which is to run from the Polish/German border at Olszyna/Forst-Bademeusel and the German Bundesautobahn 15 to the Polish Autostrada A4. The highway is a part of the European route E36 and the Pan-European corridor IIIA from Berlin to...
was completed. Also, in 2009 the first part of the motorway east of Kraków (ending on national road 75 junction, near Szarów) was finished.
The original plan was to finish the motorway by about 2013, but because of the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
decision to host the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship
2012 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2012, will be the 14th European Championship for national football teams sanctioned by UEFA. The final tournament will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine between 8 June and 1 July 2012...
in Poland and Ukraine and the resulting need for better road infrastructure connecting the two countries, the date was moved up to 2012. This target is ambitious and may not be attained if there are any unexpected delays encountered during construction. An additional 57 km (35.4 mi) from Szarów to Tarnów should be finished in the second half of 2011; currently the companies that will build it are being selected in a bidding process. The section from Tarnów to the border with Ukraine has been in various stages of planning, with its route finalized and preparations for setting up bidding for contracts underway. The contracts for designing and building the 47 km (29.2 mi) long section from Jarosław to the border of Ukraine (divided into two segments, with different companies building each) were signed in the fall of 2009, with completion scheduled for April 2012.
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Border crossing PL Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... -DE Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... Jędrzychowice Jedrzychowice, Zgorzelec County Jędrzychowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Zgorzelec, within Zgorzelec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland, close to the German border. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany.... |
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Zgorzelec Zgorzelec Zgorzelec is a town in south-western Poland with 33,278 inhabitants . It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Zgorzelec County, and also of the smaller district of Gmina Zgorzelec... |
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Godzieszów Godzieszów Godzieszów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowogrodziec, within Bolesławiec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany.... |
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Wykroty Wykroty, Lower Silesian Voivodeship Wykroty is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowogrodziec, within Bolesławiec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany.... |
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Bolesławiec |
 (6) |
Krzyżowa |
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Krzywa Krzywa, Lower Silesian Voivodeship Krzywa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Chojnów, within Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany. It lies approximately west of Chojnów, west of Legnica, and west of the regional capital Wrocław.The village has a... |
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Chojnów Chojnów Chojnów is a small town in Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is located on the Skora river, a tributary of the Kaczawa at an average altitude of above sea level. Chojnów is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is... |
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Złotoryja |
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Nowa Wieś Legnicka Nowa Wies Legnicka Nowa Wieś Legnicka is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Legnickie Pole, within Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany. It lies approximately west of Legnickie Pole, south of Legnica, and west of the regional capital... |
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Budziszów Budziszów, Sroda Slaska County Budziszów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kostomłoty, within Środa Śląska County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany.... |
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Kostomłoty |
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Kąty Wrocławskie |
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Pietrzykowice |
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Bielany Wrocławskie |
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Krajków Krajków, Lower Silesian Voivodeship Krajków is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Żórawina, within Wrocław County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany. It lies approximately south of Żórawina and south of the regional capital Wrocław.-References:... |
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Brzezimierz Brzezimierz Brzezimierz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Domaniów, within Oława County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. In 1939 it was occupied by the Soviet troops and had a Ukrainian garrison stationed in it.... |
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Owczary |
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Przylesie Przylesie, Opole Voivodeship Przylesie is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Olszanka, within Brzeg County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately west of Olszanka, south-west of Brzeg, and west of the regional capital Opole.... |
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Prądy Prady, Opole Voivodeship Prądy is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dąbrowa, within Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland... |
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Dąbrówka Dabrówka, Opole Voivodeship Dąbrówka is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gogolin, within Krapkowice County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.... |
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Krapkowice Krapkowice Krapkowice is a town in south-western Poland with 17,840 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship, straddling both banks of the Oder River at the point where it joins with the Osobłoga. It is the regional capital of Krapkowice County.... |
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Gogolin Gogolin Gogolin is a town in Poland, in Opole Voivodeship, in Krapkowice County. It has 6,116 inhabitants .-External links:*... |
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Olszowa Olszowa, Opole Voivodeship Olszowa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ujazd, within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Ujazd, south of Strzelce Opolskie, and south-east of the regional capital Opole.... |
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Nogowczyce Nogowczyce Nogowczyce is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ujazd, within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately north of Ujazd, south-east of Strzelce Opolskie, and south-east of the regional capital Opole.... |
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Łany |
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Kleszczów Kleszczów, Silesian Voivodeship Kleszczów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Rudziniec, within Gliwice County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately east of Rudziniec, north-west of Gliwice, and west of the regional capital Katowice.The village has a population of 781.-References:... |
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Gliwice Gliwice Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million... - Ostropa |
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Gliwice - Bojków |
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Gliwice - Sośnica |
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Ruda Śląska Ruda Slaska Ruda Śląska is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river .... - Wspólna |
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Ruda Śląska - Wirek |
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Chorzów Chorzów Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million... - Batorego |
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Katowice Katowice Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2... - Os. Witosa |
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Katowice - Bocheńskiego |
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Katowice - Mikołowska |
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Katowice - Francuska |
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Katowice - Murckowska |
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Mysłowice |
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Mysłowice - Brzęczkowice |
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Jaworzno Jaworzno Jaworzno is a city in southern Poland, near Katowice. The east district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Przemsza river .... - Jeleń |
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Chrzanów Chrzanów Chrzanów is a town in south Poland with 39,704 inhabitants . It is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship and is the capital of Chrzanów County.- To 1809:... I |
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Chrzanów II |
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Chrzanów III |
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Rudno Rudno, Lesser Poland Voivodeship Rudno is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Krzeszowice, within Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Krzeszowice and west of the regional capital Kraków.-History:... |
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Balice I |
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Balice II |
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Kraków - Mirowska |
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Kraków - Tyniec Tyniec Tyniec is a historic village in Poland on the Vistula river, since 1973 a part of the city of Kraków . Tyniec is notable for its famous Benedictine abbey founded by king Casimir the Restorer in 1044.-See also:... |
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Kraków - Sidzina Sidzina Sidzina is a large village with a population of around 3,200, situated in southern Poland . It lies approximately south-east of Sucha Beskidzka and south of the regional capital Kraków.... |
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Kraków - Opatkowice |
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Kraków - Łagiewniki (ul. Sapiehy) |
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Kraków - Wielicka |
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Kraków - Bieżanów |
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Szarów |
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Bochnia Bochnia Bochnia is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland. The town lies approximately in halfway [] between Tarnów and the regional capital Kraków . Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built circa 1248... (planned) |
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Brzesko Brzesko Brzesko is a town in southern Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It lies approximately west of Tarnów and east of the regional capital Kraków. Since Polish administrative reorganization , Brzesko has been the administrative capital of Brzesko County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship... (planned) |
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Wierzchosławice (planned) |
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Krzyż (planned) |
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Dębica Debica Dębica is a town in southeastern Poland with 46,693 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009. It is the capital of Dębica County. Since 1999 it has been situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship; it had previously been in the Tarnów Voivodeship .-Area:... - Żyraków (planned) |
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Dębica Debica Dębica is a town in southeastern Poland with 46,693 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009. It is the capital of Dębica County. Since 1999 it has been situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship; it had previously been in the Tarnów Voivodeship .-Area:... - Pustynia (planned) |
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Ropczyce Ropczyce Ropczyce is a town in Subcarpathian Voivodeship in south-eastern Poland, situated in the Valley the Wielopolka River and is inhabited by 15,098 people . It is the seat of Ropczyce-Sędziszów County.-Geography:... - Sędziszów (planned) |
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Rzeszów Rzeszów Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley... - Zachód (planned) |
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Rzeszów - Centrum (planned) |
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Rzeszów - Wschód (planned) |
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Łańcut (planned) |
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Przeworsk Przeworsk Przeworsk Ukrainian: Переворськ, is a town in south-eastern Poland with 15,675 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009. Since 1999 it has been in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, and is the capital of Przeworsk County.... (planned) |
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Jarosław - Wierzbna (planned) |
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Jarosław - Pawłosiów (planned) |
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Radymno Radymno Radymno is a town in south-eastern Poland with 5,543 inhabitants . It has been part of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship since its creation in 1999. Radymno was previously in the Przemyśl Voivodeship from 1975–1998.-References:Notes... (planned) |
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Border checkpoint PL Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... -UA Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia... Korczowa Korczowa Korczowa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Radymno, within Jarosław County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine.... |
| M10 Highway M10 (Ukraine) ' is a state international highway in Ukraine connecting Lviv to Krakovets on the border with Poland, where it connects to Polish National Road 4 .... E 40 European route E40 European route E 40 is the longest European route, more than long, connecting Calais in France via Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with Ridder in Kazakhstan near the border to China.... |
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