The new S46 highway will connect the Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine: what is known about this major transport corridor

Poland and the Czech Republic are working on a project for the new S46 high-speed highway, which is intended to improve connections with Ukraine and serve as an alternative to the congested A4 highway. The road is expected to play a significant role in the region’s logistics, economy, and security. Learn more about the route of the new highway, the potential construction timeline, and the project’s significance for Ukraine and the EU

Get your electronic vignette for traveling in Europe online

REGISTER

Poland and the Czech Republic plan to implement a large-scale infrastructure project—the new S46 high-speed highway, which is intended to connect Central Europe with Ukraine. The new transport corridor is designed to reduce traffic on existing roads, improve logistics between countries, and speed up the transport of goods and passengers. In addition to its economic role, the project is also viewed as a key element of transport security and military mobility in the region.

What will the route of the S46 highway be?

According to the preliminary concept, the new S46 expressway, also known as Szlak Staropolski (“Old Polish Route”), will run from the Czech border through several major Polish cities toward the Ukrainian border. The project is intended to create a new transport corridor between Central and Eastern Europe.

The route is planned to pass through:

- Opole;

- Częstochowa;

- Kielce;

- Lublin;

- Włodawa near the border with Ukraine.

The highway’s name is linked to a historic trade route that once connected the Czech Republic and Poland with eastern territories. That is why the project is positioned not only as a modern highway but also as the restoration of an important transit route for the region.

The new S46 is also intended to serve as an alternative to the A4 highway, which is considered one of Poland’s busiest roads. The situation remains particularly challenging in the regions of Silesia, Kraków, and Katowice, where drivers regularly encounter traffic jams and roadwork. Thanks to the new route, travel times between southwestern Poland, the Czech Republic, and eastern destinations could be significantly reduced.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Why is the S46 project important for Ukraine and Europe?

In Poland, officials emphasize that the new highway will have not only economic but also strategic significance. The road is expected to improve logistics between Central and Eastern European countries and create an additional route for international transport.

Special attention is being paid to the security aspect. Local officials in Poland note that the S46 will help diversify routes for transporting equipment, humanitarian cargo, and military logistics. Częstochowa City Council Chairman Marcin Bernat stated that the road’s construction could significantly expand opportunities for troop movements and supply operations.

According to Czech and Polish media reports, if the Polish government officially supports the project, construction of the highway could take about eight years. The route was also previously considered part of a broader European transport corridor that would connect Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, and even the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela.

For Ukraine, the creation of such a route could mean faster road connections with the EU, the development of international trade, and improved access to European transport infrastructure.