A4 autostrada (Poland)

*Autostrada A4*
Autostrada A4
Route information
	Part of E40
Length	669 km (416 mi)
Major junctions
From	A4 - Polish-German Border at Görlitz-Zgorzelec
	A18 near Krzyżowa; S3 near Legnica; A8 and S8 near Wrocław; A1 near Gliwice; S1 near Mysłowice; S7 and S52 near Kraków; S19 near Rzeszów
To	Polish-Ukrainian border at Korczowa-Krakovets - M10
Location
Country	Poland
Regions	Lower Silesian Voivodeship; Opole Voivodeship; Silesian Voivodeship; Lesser Poland Voivodeship; Podkarpackie Voivodeship
Major cities	Wrocław, Gliwice, Katowice, Kraków, Rzeszów
Highway system
	National roads in Poland; Voivodeship roads;

A4 west of Wrocław with repaved concrete surface

Southern part of Gliwice-Sosnica junction (joining A1 motorway, A4 motorway, national road 44, voivodeship road 902 and a local road exiting Gliwice) - the largest motorway junction in Poland, opened 2009-2010

The A4 autostrada in Poland is a 669 km (416 mi) long east–west motorway that runs through southern Poland, along the northern side the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains, from the Polish-German border at Zgorzelec-Görlitz (connecting to the A4 autobahn), through Wrocław, Opole, Gliwice, Katowice, Kraków, Tarnów and Rzeszów, to the Polish-Ukrainian border at Korczowa-Krakovets (connecting to the M10). It is a part of European route E40.

The motorway between Wrocław and Kraków (270 km (170 mi)) was constructed between 1976 and 2005. The part from Mysłowice to Kraków is tolled (see Tolls).

The section from the German border to Wrocław (151 km (94 mi), not tolled) was constructed between 2002 and 2009, in large part as repavement of the old concrete motorway constructed from 1933 to 1937 (then the territory of Nazi Germany). The repaved parts are substandard due to lack of emergency lanes and the speed limit is decreased to 110 km/h.

The motorway from Kraków to the Ukrainian border (251 km (156 mi), not tolled) was constructed between 2010 and 2016, making A4 the first Polish complete border-to-border highway connection.

History of construction

Some western stretches of this motorway were initially built as a Reichsautobahn by Nazi Germany in the 1930s under her interwar borders. After the Second World War and the takeover of Poland by the communist regime, with her new borders, the existing roads received minimal maintenance and upgrades and became notorious for their poor quality, a phenomenon similar to that observed in East Germany. In effect, the original road served in a virtually unchanged state throughout the whole communist period and the first years afterwards. Reconstruction between 2002 and 2006 removed the old concrete road surface (earlier, a short fragment of A18 was reconstructed between 1993 and 1995, of which 10 km (6.2 mi) are now part of A4), but some aspects of the 1930s standards of construction remain on the stretch from Krzyżowa to Wrocław; for example, the aforementioned section does not have emergency lanes, a feature that is to be added in the future.

The section between Katowice and Kraków was built from 1976 to 1996, and the section between Wrocław and Katowice from 1996 to 2005. Between 2006 and 2009, the section from the German border to the junction with A18 motorway was constructed, which completed a continuous connection from Germany to Kraków.

Also completed in 2009 was the first portion of the motorway east of Kraków (20 km). The original plan was to finish the rest of 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 to improve the road infrastructure connecting the two countries, the date for opening the motorway to traffic was moved up to June 2012. This ambitious target was not attained after multiple delays, some caused by the floods of 2010. In July 2016, the last missing section of 41 km (25 mi) between Rzeszów and Jarosław was completed. This meant the entire length of the A4 from the German border to the Ukrainian border was completed, making the A4 the first complete major motorway in Poland (second overall, behind the very short A8) and the first completed continuous border-to-border highway connection.

Sections of the motorway

Motorway section	Length	Constructed	Note
Jędrzychowice (border) - Zgorzelec	1.7 km (1.1 mi)	1994–1996	heavy-load trucks only in 1994, all cars since 1996
Zgorzelec - Krzyżowa	50 km (31 mi)	2007–2009
Krzyżowa - Bielany Wrocławskie	99 km (62 mi)	1933–1937	repaved in 2002 – 2006 (short fragment in 1993 – 1995); section without emergency lanes
Bielany Wrocławskie - Przylesie (Brzeg)	40.7 km (25.3 mi)	1997–2000	first carriageway built 1936 – 1938; reconstructed and second carriageway added in 1997 – 2000
Przylesie (Brzeg) - Nogowczyce	84.5 km (52.5 mi)	2000–2003	some unfinished construction before 1945
Nogowczyce - Kleszczów	17.9 km (11.1 mi)	2001–2003	first carriageway built 1936 – 1942;^[a] reconstructed and second carriageway added in 2001 – 2003
Kleszczów - Katowice Murckowska	43 km (27 mi)	1996–2005
Katowice Murckowska - Mysłowice	6.3 km (3.9 mi)	1989–1996
Mysłowice - Kraków Balice	53.7 km (33.4 mi)	1976–1991	private operator and tolls since 2000
Kraków Balice - Kraków Wieliczka	24 km (15 mi)	1979–2003
Kraków Wieliczka - Szarów	20 km (12 mi)	2007–2009
Szarów - Tarnów	57 km (35 mi)	2010–2013	opened to traffic in November, 2012, in part with single carriageway only.^[1] Both carriageways were fully opened in May, 2013.^[2]
Tarnów Północ - Dębica Wschód^[3]	34.8 km (21.6 mi)	2010–2014	opened Oct 30/31, 2014.^[4]^[5]
Dębica Wschód - Rzeszów Północ^[6]^[7]	41 km (25 mi)	2010–2013	opened in October, 2013
Rzeszów Północ - Rzeszów Wschód^[8]	6.9 km (4.3 mi)	2010–2012	opened in September, 2012
Rzeszów Wschód - Jarosław Zachód^[9]	41.2 km (25.6 mi)	2010–2016	originally planned to finish in 2012, delayed until 2014, then contractor abandoned the contract in January 2014 when 70% complete due to dispute with the government over financing. New contract was awarded in September,^[10] with construction beginning in October 2014. Opened in July, 2016.^[11]
Jarosław Zachód - Korczowa^[12]	47.1 km (29.3 mi)	2010–2013	originally planned to finish in 2012,^[13] opened in May 2013 (Jarosław Wschód - Radymno) and December 2013 (remaining parts)^[14]

^ It continued from Kleszczów into Gliwice and today that section is National Road 88, while A4 bypasses Gliwice to the south

Route description

Country	Voivodeship	Location	km	mi	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Poland	Lower Silesian Voivodeship	Zgorzelec	0.0	0.0	—	Germany–Poland border	A 4 / E40	Border with Germany Western endpoint of motorway Kilometrage starting point Western terminus of E40 continues towards Dresden
		Gmina Zgorzelec	1.8	1.1	1	Zgorzelec	DK 30 DK 94 – Zgorzelec/Jelenia Góra
		Gmina Zgorzelec	7.8	4.8	Rest area	MOP Żarska Wieś	Żarska Wieś rest area	restaurant and motel eastbound petrol station both ways
		Gmina Nowogrodziec	17.9	11.1	2	Godzieszów	DW 296 – Lubań/Żagań	DK94 can be accessed by DW296
		Gmina Nowogrodziec	26.0	16.2	Parking area	MOP Czerna	Czerna parking area	parking only
		Gmina Bolesławiec	44.6	27.7	3	Bolesławiec	DW 297 – Jelenia Góra/Bolesławiec/Nowa Sól
			46.2	28.7	Rest area	MOP Kraśnik Dolny	Kraśnik Dolny rest area	eastbound only restaurant, motel and petrol station
			49.8	30.9	4	Krzyżowa interchange	A 18 / E36 – Olszyna/Berlin	trumpet interchange
		Gmina Gromadka	56.0	34.8	5	LSSE Obszar Krzywa	LSSE Obszar Krzywa/Szczytnica	LSSE means Special economic zone (SEZ)
		Gmina Chojnów	62.0	38.5	6	Krzywa	DK 94 – Legnica/Bolesławiec/Zgorzelec
		Gmina Zagrodno	66.6	41.4	—	Jadwisin	Jadwisin/Witkówek	Junction will be removed in the future
		Gmina Chojnów	73.0	45.4	7	Chojnów	DW 328 – Złotoryja/Chojnów
		Gmina Chojnów	76.6	47.6	Parking area	MOP Strupice	Strupice parking area	Parking area will be removed in the future
		Gmina Złotoryja	79.9	49.6	—	Lubiatów	Lubiatów/Łukaszów	Junction will be removed in the future
		Gmina Krotoszyce	83.6	51.9	8	Złotoryja	DW 364 – Legnica/Złotoryja
		Gmina Krotoszyce	86.6	53.8	9	Legnica Południe interchange	S 3 / E65 – Legnica/Jelenia Góra	double trumpet interchange Południe means South
		Legnica	91.9	57.1	10	Legnica Wschód	DW 320 DW 333 – Legnica/Jawor
		Gmina Legnickie Pole	97.0	60.3	—	Legnickie Pole	Legnickie Pole	exit and entrance only eastbound Junction will be removed in the future
		Gmina Legnickie Pole	99.6	61.9	—	Mikołajowice	Snowidza/Koskowice/Legnickie Pole	Junction will be removed in the future Legnickie Pole only signed westbound
		Gmina Wądroże Wielkie	104.7	65.1	—	Wądroże Wielkie	Wądroże Wielkie/Jawor/Prochowice	Junction will be removed in the future
		Gmina Wądroże Wielkie	112.1	69.7	11	Budziszów	DW 345 – Strzegom/Rawicz
		Gmina Udanin	115.9	72.0	—	Udanin	Ujazd Górny/Udanin	Junction will be removed in the future
			119.7	74.4	Rest area	MOP Jarosław	Jarosław rest area	exit and entrance only eastbound parking, restaurant, and shower facilities Rest area will be removed in the future
			120.1	74.6	—	Gościsław	Jarosław/Gościsław	Junction will be removed in the future
		Gmina Kostomłoty	125.1	77.7	12	Kostomłoty	DK 5 – Lubawka/Jelenia Góra/Środa Śląska/Kostomłoty	Western End of concurrency with national road 5
		Gmina Kąty Wrocławskie	137.4	85.4	13	Kąty Wrocławskie	DW 347 – Kąty Wrocławskie/Mietków
					14	Strzeganowice	DK 35 – Wałbrzych	planned interchange with DK35
			147.4	91.6	—	Pietrzykowice	Krzeptów/Wierzbice	Junction will be removed in the future
			150.3	93.4	15	Wrocław Południe interchange	A 8 / E67 – Wrocław/Warsaw/Poznań/Wrocław Airport S 8 / E67 – Kudowa-Słone	modified cloverleaf interchange Południe means South
		Gmina Kobierzyce	153.1	95.1	16	Bielany Wrocławskie	DK 5 – Wrocław DK 35 – Wałbrzych	Eastern End of concurrency with national road 5
		Gmina Kobierzyce	156.0	96.9	—	PPO Karwiany	—	Western terminus of toll section PPO means toll station
		Gmina Żórawina	164.3	102.1	17	Wrocław Wschód	DW 395 – Wrocław Wschód/Strzelin	Junction equipped with toll station Wschód means east
		Gmina Żórawina	166.0	103.1	Parking area	MOP Wilkowice (eastbound) MOP Krajków (westbound)	Wilkowice/Krajków parking area
		Gmina Domaniów	178.5	110.9	18	Brzezimierz	DW 396 – Oława/Strzelin	Junction equipped with toll station
		Gmina Oława	183.7	114.1	Rest area	MOP Witowice (eastbound) MOP Oleśnica Mała (westbound)	Witowice/Oleśnica Mała rest area	restaurant
	Opole Voivodeship	Gmina Grodków	193.7	120.4	19	Brzeg	DW 403 – Brzeg DW 401 – Nysa	Junction equipped with toll station
		Gmina Olszanka	200.3	124.5	Parking area	MOP Jankowice Wielkie	Jankowice Wielkie parking area
		Gmina Niemodlin	218.7	135.9	Rest area	MOP Młyńskie Stawy	Młyńskie Stawy rest area	motel and petrol station
		Gmina Dąbrowa	222.0	137.9	20	Opole Zachód	DK 46 – Nysa/Opole	Junction equipped with toll station Zachód means west
		Gmina Prószków	237.2	147.4	Parking area	MOP Przysiecz	Przysiecz parking area
		Gmina Krapkowice	244.1	151.7	21	Opole Południe	DK 45 – Opole/Racibórz/Krapkowice	Junction equipped with toll station Południe means south
		Gmina Krapkowice	251.2	156.1	22	Krapkowice	DW 423 – Krapkowice/Kędzierzyn-Koźle/Gogolin	Junction equipped with toll station
		Gmina Leśnica	264.2	164.2	Rest area	MOP Wysoka	Wysoka rest area	Shower, restaurant (KFC) and petrol station
		Gmina Ujazd	272.1	169.1	23	Kędzierzyn-Koźle	DW 426 – Strzelce Opolskie/Kędzierzyn-Koźle	Junction equipped with toll station
		Gmina Ujazd	278.0	172.7	24	Strzelce Opolskie	DK 88 – Strzelce Opolskie	Western End of concurrency with national road 88 Junction equipped with toll station
	Silesian Voivodeship	Gmina Rudziniec	287.2	178.5	25	Łany	DK 40 – Kędzierzyn-Koźle/Pyskowice	Junction equipped with toll station
		Gmina Rudziniec	295.8	183.8	26	Kleszczów	DK 88 – Gliwice/Bytom	Eastern End of concurrency with national road 88 Junction equipped with toll station Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass
		Gmina Sośnicowice	299.7	186.2	Rest area	MOP Rachowice	Rachowice rest area	restaurant, petrol station
		Gliwice	303.5	188.6	27	Gliwice Ostropa	DW 408 – Gliwice/Kędzierzyn-Koźle	Junction equipped with toll station Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass
			310.1	192.7	28	Gliwice Bojków	DK 78 – Gliwice/Rybnik	Junction equipped with toll station Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass
			311.7	193.7	–	PPO Żernica	–	Eastern terminus of toll section Toll free when using the Gliwice bypass PPO means toll station
			315.5	196.0	29	Gliwice Sośnica interchange	A 1 – Łódź/Gorzyczki/Ostrava/Katowice Airport DK 44 – Tychy DW 902 – Katowice/Gliwice	Combination interchange Western endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway
		Zabrze	320.8	199.3	30	Zabrze Południe	Ruda Śląska-Bielszowice/Zabrze/Chudów	Południe means south
		Ruda Śląska	324.0	201.3	31	Ruda Śląska	DW 925 – Ruda Śląska/Bytom/Rybnik
		Ruda Śląska	326.9	203.1	Rest area	MOP Halemba	Halemba rest area	restaurant, petrol station and shower
		Chorzów	331.5	206.0	32	Chorzów	Katowice-Załęska Hałda-Osiedle Witosa/Ruda Śląska-Kochłowice/Chorzów
		Katowice	334.1	207.6	33	Katowice-Mikołowska	Katowice-Centrum/Katowice-Ligota/Skoczów	Eastern endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway Centrum means center
			337.2	209.5	34	Katowice-Francuska	Katowice-Centrum/Katowice-Brynów/Katowice-Muchowiec	Centrum means center
			339.5	211.0	35	Katowice-Murckowska	DK 86 – Tychy/Bielsko-Biała/Sosnowiec/Częstochowa
		Mysłowice	345.8	214.9	36	Mysłowice	Mysłowice
			348.7	216.7	37	Brzęczkowice interchange	S 1 / E75 / E462 – Cieszyn S 1 / E75 – Cieszyn/Łódź/Warsaw/Katowice Airport	Western End of concurrency with european route E462 cloverleaf interchange
			350.6	217.9	–	PPO Brzęczkowice	–	Western terminus of toll section PPO means toll station
		Jaworzno	359.0	223.1	38	Jeleń	DW 903 – Jaworzno	Incomplete junction: no exit ramp Kraków → Jeleń; no entry ramp Jeleń → Kraków Toll junction, not equipped with toll station
			361.2	224.4	Rest area	MOP Zastawie (westbound) MOP Kępnica (eastbound)	Zastawie/Kępnica rest area	petrol station, motel, TIR, restaurant, carwash
364.6			226.6	39	Byczyna	DK 79 – Jaworzno	Incomplete junction: no exit ramp Katowice → Byczyna; no entry ramp Byczyna → Katowice Toll junction, not equipped with toll station
Lesser Poland Voivodeship	Gmina Chrzanów	388.4	241.3	40	Balin	Oświęcim/Balin	Toll junction, not equipped with toll station
	Gmina Chrzanów	370.6	230.3	41	Chrzanów	DK 79 – Chrzanów/Trzebinia	Toll junction, not equipped with toll station
	Gmina Alwernia	380.9	236.7	42	Rudno	Alwernia/Krzeszowice	Toll junction, not equipped with toll station
	Gmina Zabierzów	397.5	247.0	Rest area	MOP Morawica	Morawica rest area	petrol station, motel, restaurant, carwash
		399.2	248.1	–	PPO Balice	–	Eastern terminus of toll section PPO means toll station
		400.2	248.7	43	Balice I interchange	S 52 – Kraków DK 7 / E77 – Warsaw	Eastern End of concurrency with european route E462 Western End of concurrency with national road 7 and european route E77 trumpet interchange
	Kraków	401.7	249.6	44	Kraków Balice	DW 774 – Kraków John Paul II International Airport/Kryspinów/Zabierzów
	Kraków	406.4	252.5	45	Kraków Bielany	Kraków-Centrum	Centrum means center
	Gmina Liszki	407.0	252.9	–	Bridge	–	Bridge over the Vistula River
	Kraków	408.1	253.6	46	Kraków-Tyniec	Kraków-Tyniec
		411.6	255.8	47	Kraków-Skawina	DK 44 – Kraków/Oświęcim
		416.1	258.6	48	Kraków-Południe	DK 7 / E77 – Chyżne/Zakopane/Kraków-Centrum	Eastern End of concurrency with national road 7 and european route E77 Południe means south Centrum means center Incomplete junction: no exit ramp Rzeszów → Kraków; no entry ramp Kraków → Rzeszów
		418.2	259.9	49	Kraków-Łagiewniki	Kraków-Łagiewniki	Western endpoint of the stretch with three lanes per carriageway
		424.0	263.5	50	Kraków-Wieliczka	DK 94 – Tarnów/Kraków-Centrum	Centrum means center
		427.3	265.5	51	Kraków-Bieżanów	S 7 / E77 – Warsaw (proposed)/Kraków-Wschód	Wschód means east trumpet interchange
	Gmina Niepołomice	434.6	270.0	52	Niepołomice	DW 964 – Niepołomice/Wieliczka
	Gmina Kłaj	443.5	275.6	53	Targowisko	DK 75 – Targowisko/Kraków Północ	Western End of concurrency with national road 75 Północ means north
	Gmina Kłaj	448.3	278.6	Rest area	MOP Kłaj	Kłaj rest area	restaurant and petrol station
	Bochnia	457.1	284.0	54	Bochnia	Bochnia/Nowe Brzesko
	Gmina Brzesko	466.9	290.1	55	Brzesko	DK 75 – Brzesko/Nowy Sącz DW 768 – Koszyce	Eastern End of concurrency with national road 75
	Gmina Wierzchosławice	487.5	302.9	56	Tarnów Mościce	DW 973 – Tarnów-Mościce DW 975 – Wojnicz/Dąbrowa Tarnowska
	Tarnów	500.8	311.2	57	Tarnów Centrum	DK 73 – Tarnów-Centrum/Jasło/Kielce/Dąbrowa Tarnowska	Centrum means center
Subcarpathian Voivodeship	Gmina Żyraków	530.5	329.6	58	Dębica Zachód	Dębica	Zachód means west
	Gmina Dębica	536.9	333.6	59	Dębica Wschód	DW 985 – Dębica/Mielec	Wschód means east
	Gmina Sędziszów Małopolski	551.6	342.7	60	Sędziszów	Ropczyce DK 94/Sędziszów Małopolski
	Gmina Świlcza	564.9	351.0	Rest area	MOP Bratkowice	Bratkowice rest area	facilities (parking and toilet); further planned
	Gmina Świlcza	570.3	354.4	61	Rzeszów Zachód interchange	S 19 / E371 – Rzeszów/Barwinek	Western End of concurrency with expressway S19 and european route E371 double trumpet interchange with unused northern end Zachód means west
	Gmina Głogów Małopolski	574.4	356.9	62	Rzeszów Północ	DK 9 – Rzeszów DK 9 / E371 – Warsaw/Radom	Eastern End of concurrency with european route E371 Północ means north
	Gmina Trzebownisko	581.2	361.1	63	Rzeszów Wschód interchange	S 19 – Lublin DK 97 – Rzeszów	Eastern End of concurrency with expressway S19 double trumpet interchange Wschód means east
	Gmina Czarna	593.1	368.5	64	Łańcut	DW 877 – Łańcut/Leżajsk
	Gmina Przeworsk	612.6	380.7	65	Przeworsk	DW 835 – Przeworsk/Lublin
	Gmina Przeworsk	622.5	386.8	66	Jarosław Zachód	DK 94 – Jarosław/Korczowa/Rzeszów
	Gmina Pawłosiów	631.7	392.5	67	Jarosław Wschód	DW 880 – Jarosław/Pruchnik
	Gmina Radymno	646.7	401.8	68	Przemyśl	DK 77 – Jarosław/Przemyśl
		666.3	414.0	69	Korczowa	DK 94 – Jarosław/Rzeszów
		668.9	415.6	—	Poland–Ukraine border	M 10 / E40	Border with Ukraine Eastern endpoint of motorway Eastern terminus of E40 continues towards Lviv
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus Incomplete access Proposed Tolled Route transition