The S17 expressway, which serves as a key connection between the capital and southeastern Poland, is approaching completion, although a significant portion of the investment remains to be realized. According to available information, over 180 km of the route and a sub-10-kilometer bypass of Tomaszów Lubelski are already at the disposal of drivers. The total target length of the S17 will exceed 320 km, including sections of shared infrastructure with the S12 route. Approximately 130 km are missing for the full handover of the road, with a key element being the 16-kilometer section of the Eastern Ring Road of Warsaw (WOW), which will close the communication ring around the capital.

Study for the Eastern Ring Road of Warsaw

Commencing works on the Eastern Ring Road of Warsaw required first determining the route alignment. On May 28, 2026, a contract was signed for the execution of a Technical, Economic, and Environmental Study, along with materials for issuing an environmental decision, for this fragment. The value of the contract exceeds 7.4 million PLN, and its implementation was entrusted to the Design and Research Office for Roads and Bridges TRANSPROJEKT-WARSZAWA. In accordance with the contract terms, the time allotted for developing the documentation is 48 months, which, assuming a smooth process of consultations, could result in the documentation being ready by 2030.

The designer's task is not only to indicate the most favorable route variant in terms of technical, social, environmental, and economic aspects, but also to conduct detailed geological surveys. Special emphasis is placed on the analysis of tunnel solutions, taking into account modern technologies and past experiences. The final document will serve as the basis for applying for an environmental decision.

Implementation in the Lublin Voivodeship

In the Lublin section of the route, progress is uneven. Construction of the Zamość East – Zamość South and Tomaszów Lubelski – Hrebenne sections has already passed the halfway mark. The situation is more complicated on the Zamość – Tomaszów Lubelski section, where the progress of works stands at just 9 percent. Works on this fragment began after the issuance of a building permit (ZRID) in December 2025. Due to the unsatisfactory pace of implementation, the GDDKiA extended the deadline for completing the investment to the second half of 2028. After reviewing the contractor's claims related to the lengthy ZRID procedure, the institution called on the company to mobilize works. A 28-day deadline was set to fulfill obligations, and failure to meet it may result in the termination of the contract due to reasons attributable to the contractor.

Meanwhile, preparatory procedures are underway for the remaining fragments of the route between Piaski and Zamość. The Lublin Voivode is conducting proceedings for the issuance of building permits for the Piaski East – Łopiennik, Krasnystaw North – Izbica, and Izbica – Zamość Sitaniec sections. For the former, a contractor has been selected – Aldesa Polska (contract value: 810 million PLN), and for the latter – Budimex consortium (contract value: 961.5 million PLN). Field works on these sections will begin after the issuance of the ZRID decision.

Financing and Further Plans

An important element of S17 financing is co-financing from the European Union. The Tomaszów Lubelski – Hrebenne section (length 17 km) received support under the "Connecting Europe Facility" (CEF) instrument in the amount of over 61 million euros, which corresponds to half of the eligible expenditures. The CEF is a financial instrument managed by the European Commission, supporting key infrastructure projects across the Union.

The last part of the S17 in the Lublin Voivodeship will be a short, sub-2-kilometer section in the vicinity of Hrebenne leading to the planned terminal at the border with Ukraine. Design documentation is currently being prepared for this fragment. Construction of a pair of Service Areas for Travelers has also begun on the already functioning Tomaszów Lubelski bypass, for which the Lublin Voivode has already issued a building permit.

Decisions

  • Contract for the execution of the Technical, Economic, and Environmental Study for the WOW signed on May 28, 2026.
  • Issuance of the building permit (ZRID) for the Zamość – Tomaszów Lubelski section in December 2025.
  • Issuance of the building permit for a pair of Service Areas for Travelers on the Tomaszów Lubelski bypass by the Lublin Voivode