Czech Republic Races to Connect D11 Highway to Poland Amid Construction Hurdles
The Czech Republic is pushing to complete the final stages of the D11 highway to establish a critical transport link with Poland, though officials admit that deadlines for the border connection are currently under pressure. The project is a key infrastructure priority intended to streamline transit between the two nations and improve access to the Baltic region.
Radek Mátl, General Director of the Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD), has expressed optimism that the first three kilometers of the highway at the Polish border will open in November 2026. This specific segment will allow traffic from Poland’s S3 expressway to enter Czech territory near Královec, eliminating the current need for drivers to exit into the border town of Lubawka.
However, the timeline is not without risk. According to reports from Zdopravy.cz, contractors led by MI Roads have requested extensions into 2027. The delays are attributed to unfavorable physical conditions and difficulties with embankment consolidation near Královec. To combat these setbacks, ŘSD is currently negotiating “acceleration measures” to ensure the November 2026 opening remains viable.
Parallel challenges are affecting other major projects, including a 5.8-kilometer stretch of the D3 highway between Kaplice station and Nažidla, which is also facing potential delays. Michal Jurman, spokesperson for MI Roads, confirmed that final agreements with the project owner are expected in the coming days.
While the border link is the immediate focus, the broader completion of the D11 is now underway. On April 8, 2026, ŘSD officially launched construction on the final missing segment of the highway, stretching 19.6 kilometers from Jaroměř to Trutnov. This massive investment, costing 9.09 billion CZK (excluding VAT), is described by Mátl as a highly demanding undertaking. The project includes 24 bridges, an 800-meter tunnel, and 12.5 kilometers of noise barriers. This final stretch is slated for completion by autumn 2029, with the section leading toward Trutnov expected to open in the summer of 2028.
The Jaroměř-to-Trutnov project is being executed by a consortium including Eurovia CZ, MI Roads, Metrostav TBR, and M-Silnice. To improve driver amenities, the project will feature the Brusnice rest area, which will provide over 50 spaces for passenger cars and 20 for trucks. Mátl noted that while the Jaroměř and Předměřice rest areas were developed separately due to historical planning gaps, integrating facilities like Brusnice directly into the highway construction is the ideal approach.
The successful completion of these segments underscores the Czech Republic’s effort to modernize its eastern transport corridors and integrate more seamlessly with the European highway network.
