There is going to be a two-nave tunnel there, which means that two parallel pits are going to be carved into the rock. When it comes into existence, it will be the longest tunnel of that kind in Poland.

Currently, the longest tunnel can be found in Laliki in Silesia (678 metres). The one in the Wałbrzyskie Mountains is going to be over 2320 metres long. It is going to be carved in the Wałbrzyskie Mountains as a part of building the future S3 road between Legnica and Lubawka, near Stare Bogaczowice. The pits are supposed to be wide enough to include a 10-metre wide road in each nave: two lanes (3.5 metres each) and a 2.5 metre hard shoulder. Moreover, escape routes between the naves and emergency passages will be made.

The works will be carried out with the use of the NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method).

-  Boring is done by means of blasting, that is horizontal bore holes are made in the face of the tunnel, then explosives are installed. Next, they are fired sequentially – says Paweł Sysik from the Polish branch of Austrian company ILF Consulting Engineers, which deals with designing tunnels and provides investment supervision.

At the end of 2012, the European Commission put this section onto the list of key projects which can apply for an EU fund within the framework of a new financial instrument entitled  “Connecting Europe Facility”. There will be 31.7 billion euro available under this programme.

Photo: www.wroclaw.gazeta.pl