Trial section of S6 expressway with concrete surface ready!

On September 4, 2024, the company Aldesa delivered a trial section of the S6 expressway with a concrete surface. This is an innovative solution for Polish roads, where concrete pavements are still a rarity. The 13-kilometer section of the Bobrowniki – Skórowo route, built by Aldesa, is one of two sections of the S6 being constructed with this technology.

First Concrete Pavements on the S6 Highway

The construction of modern roads with concrete surfaces is a step towards long-term durability and resilience of road infrastructure in Poland. The Bobrowniki to Skórowo section of the S6, executed by Aldesa, spans approximately 13 kilometers and is being built using concrete technology. Except for three engineering structures, the entire road will be covered with a concrete surface.

The overall progress of construction on this segment has now exceeded 50%. Earthworks are 90% complete, and bridgework progress stands at 65%. Construction began in July 2023, and the recently delivered trial section marks a crucial stage in assessing the quality and effectiveness of the applied technology.

Though less common on Polish roads, concrete pavements are gaining importance in projects managed by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA).

Second Concrete Section – Słupsk – Bobrowniki

Simultaneously, the company NDI is constructing another 16-kilometer section of the S6 between Słupsk and Bobrowniki using the same concrete technology. Like the Aldesa project, the surface will be entirely made of concrete, which is a new development for GDDKiA projects. Once completed, the S6 section between Bobrowniki and Słupsk will be one of the first long stretches of expressway in Poland to feature a concrete surface.

Why Concrete Pavements?

Concrete pavements are known for their exceptional durability and resistance to heavy traffic, making them an ideal solution for routes with high volumes of heavy vehicles. Compared to asphalt, concrete has a longer lifespan and requires less maintenance. Additionally, concrete surfaces are less prone to deformation, which is particularly important for high-speed roads.

However, building concrete pavements requires specialized equipment and takes longer than asphalt construction. This makes the decision to use this technology on the S6 highway an innovative move in the context of Polish road construction.

GDDKiA New Approach

Until 2019, GDDKiA determined which road sections should be built using concrete technology, based on projections of heavy traffic. After that, the approach changed, giving contractors the freedom to choose the technology. Most contractors opted for asphalt surfaces, primarily due to the ease of implementation and lower initial costs. For instance, between 2019 and 2021, of the 39 projects tendered, 36 chose asphalt, while only three opted for concrete.

The use of concrete on two sections of the S6 – Bobrowniki – Skórowo and Słupsk – Bobrowniki – signals that this technology may gain more popularity, especially on roads with heavy traffic loads.