2026-03-02 17:46
publication
2026-03-02 17:46
Less than a month after withdrawing from the contract with the current contractor for works on the construction site of the cross-town tunnel in Łódź, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA announced the commencement of preliminary market consultations related to the further implementation of the investment.
In a statement sent to PAP on Monday, PKP PLK said that the consultations are in the form of scenario analyzes regarding technical and technological parameters and safety issues related to the further implementation of the interrupted investment. Their goal is to prepare as quickly and comprehensively as possible for the resumption of work on the construction of the underground tunnel under Łódź.
“The decision to conduct consultations results from the need to discuss key issues with entities guaranteeing the safety of the work being carried out and the necessary experience in carrying out complex tunnel works in the urban tissue,” noted Rafał Wilgusiak from the PKP PLK press team.
The investor emphasized that the purpose of the consultation is to compare its needs with the best market practices and obtain expert opinions regarding the completion of the project. Companies that can demonstrate documented experience in the construction of tunnels, including large investments carried out in compact urban areas, were invited to the talks.
“The company is interested in a broad exchange of experience with professional entities operating in the tunnel construction market. Therefore, both Polish contractors and foreign contractors with appropriate experience on the international market can apply for participation in the consultations,” the announcement announced.
The scope of consultation will include, among others: issues regarding verification of the further schedule of tunnel works, the preferred implementation model and risk division, possible methods of securing buildings, including historic buildings.
PKP PLK announces that, based on the information gathered therein, technical and organizational assumptions will be clarified, which will allow for more precise and transparent preparation of the tender procedure for the completion of drilling works for the construction market.
When starting the consultations, the investor declares to act with the utmost care in order to “prepare comprehensive, transparent and professional bases for resuming drilling works as soon as possible.”
The investor hopes that a constructive discussion and a comparison of various technical and organizational perspectives will allow us to jointly develop the most optimal model for further implementation of this extremely important investment, ensuring not only efficiency and the highest quality of work, but also safety and responsibility for decisions at every stage of its implementation.
The cross-city tunnel under Łódź is to be 7.5 km long. It will connect the Łódź Fabryczna station with Łódź Kaliska and Żabieniec. The contract for the construction of the tunnel was concluded in 2017, and the actual construction and drilling works began in August 2019. Originally, the investment was to be completed in 2021, but after further downtime and changes to the project (one station was added along the tunnel route, and its route and profile were previously changed), the last applicable schedule envisaged completion of the drilling in June 2026.
Since September 2024, work related to drilling it has been at a standstill, after the passage under Al. On May 1, part of the tenement house directly above the tunnel collapsed. Since then, approximately 250 residents have been staying in hotels and rented apartments, who were displaced during the construction and cannot return to their apartments. The cost of accommodation (approx. PLN 2 million per month) was borne by the previous contractor – Przedsiębiorstwo Budowy Dróg i Mostów (PBDiM) from Mińsk Mazowiecki.
At the beginning of February this year. The tunnel's investor, PKP PLK, announced its withdrawal from the contract with the contractor, justifying the decision with “the safety of residents, concern for real estate on the tunnel construction route and the need to ensure stable and professional implementation of the infrastructure project that is crucial for Łódź and the national railway system.”
The president of PKP PLK, Piotr Wyborski, assured then that the investor would take care of the tenants and complete all formalities related to the payment of compensation and possible purchase of the property as soon as possible.
PLK announced that it wants to select a new company this year, which will enter the construction site in the 3rd-4th quarter and finish drilling the tunnel. However, this does not mean the resumption of construction works. According to information obtained from the investor by the vice-president of Łódź, Adam Wieczorek, this could take place within 20 months of withdrawal from the contract. (PAP)
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