← all projects
🚆Transportstrategic

S19 Rzeszów Południe – Babica (TBM tunnel)

under constructionstage: construction
3.0 bn PLN
programme budget (multi-year) · data from 20 Feb 2026net or gross: not recorded≈ 3.0 bn PLN (value-by-stage, est., nominal)funding: state budget, EU – FEnIKS programme (almost PLN 1.5 billion)

Construction of a 10.3 km section of the S19 expressway between the Rzeszów Południe and Babica interchanges, carried out by GDDKiA along the Via Carpatia route. The main structure is a twin-bore tunnel 2,255 m long, bored by the TBM "Karpatka", the first such structure in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Construction work began in April 2022; after methane was detected in the rock mass, work was suspended and the contractual deadline was moved by an annex from autumn 2026 to 7 January 2028. The first tunnel bore was excavated in December 2025, and boring of the second bore has been underway since June 2026. The planned total cost exceeds PLN 3 billion, with EU funding (FEnIKS) of nearly PLN 1.5 billion.

How it went

We have assessed this project, but none of the four axes is shown here: 2 carry no assessment yet, 2 have an assessment with no confirmed quote. The timeline and sources below show what is known about it. How to read this section

No source calls this a delay and the card makes no assessment here, but the dates recorded on this project differ by 2 years: originally 2026, currently 2028-01-07.

Timeline

  1. Construction startApr 2022
  2. Original date2026
  3. Current date7 Jan 2028

Change history

  • Apr 2022stage: construction

Significance

The section closes the expressway exit from Rzeszów to the south along the international Via Carpatia corridor. The 2,255 m tunnel will be the first structure of its kind in Podkarpackie Voivodeship, and the project, with a planned cost of over PLN 3 billion, is among the most expensive road sections in the region; nearly PLN 1.5 billion comes from EU funds. The methane detected and the associated redesign of the TBM made the project a prominent example of geological risk in Polish road megaprojects, with a two-year deadline shift (from 2026 to 2028).

Sources 6 · 5 independent · 4 archived

Every fact on this card comes from the sources below. Next to each source – which fields it supports.

Independence is counted the same way the gate that admits a record counts it: subdomains and titles from one publisher are a single voice, Wikipedia is zero. That is why the number is lower than the number of links. Three is the minimum.

  1. Podkarpacki Urząd Wojewódzki w Rzeszowie20 Feb 2026
    CostInvestorFunding
    CostPlanowany, całkowity koszt realizacji tego odcinka drogi ekspresowej S19 wynosi ponad 3 mld zł.
    InvestorGDDKiA w Rzeszowie podpisała pierwszą w tym roku umowę o dofinansowanie z Programu Fundusze Europejskie na Infrastrukturę, Klimat, Środowisko (FEnIKS)
    Locationpierwszy taki obiekt w woj. podkarpackim
    FundingKwota wydatków kwalifikowalnych to niemal 1,8 mld zł, a dofinansowanie ze środków UE to prawie 1,5 mld zł.
  2. Ministerstwo Infrastruktury (gov.pl)10 Dec 2025
    Current date
    Current datezakończenie prac planowane jest w styczniu 2028 r.
  3. Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad (gov.pl)
  4. Rynek Infrastruktury3 Jun 2025
    Original dateCurrent date
    Original datePoczątkowo założono, że tunel zostanie wykonany w ciągu 54 miesięcy od podpisania umowy z wyłączeniem okresów zimowych. W tym wariancie budowa zakończyłaby się jesienią 2026 roku.
    Current dateZgodnie z zawartym aneksem, termin na ukończenie prac to 7 stycznia 2028 r.
  5. Podkarpacki Urząd Wojewódzki w Rzeszowie13 Feb 2026
    Construction startStage history
    Construction start · Stage historyw kwietniu 2022 r. rozpoczęły się roboty budowlane
  6. Inżynieria.com24 Jun 2026
    StatusStage
    StatusTBM Karpatka rozpoczęła drążenie drugiej, prawej nawy tunelu
    Stagewydrążono około 10 m tunelu właściwego