The planned tunnel beneath the Świna River is poised to redefine life in Świnoujście. As the mayor, Janusz Żmurkiewicz, explained on the program Gość Wiadomości, the changes will touch every facet of daily life and urban operation. The project stands as a turning point for the city, a bold move toward stability and efficiency that replaces a system long dependent on ferry crossings and the variables that accompany them.
Before the tunnel, the island of Uznam and the nearby Wolin had functioned much like many other Polish cities in terms of physical connection, yet the reality was unusual in its reliance on ferries. Those ferries were bound to weather, schedules, maintenance pauses, and the occasional queue that stretched beyond reasonable expectations. Żmurkiewicz recalled the days when travel planning meant factoring in half an hour, sometimes an entire hour, simply to wait for a crossing. Every activity in the city had to be weighed against the time spent on the water, he noted, turning what should be straightforward errands into logistical exercises that tested residents’ patience and time management.
The cost of living in Świnoujście also stood out in the region. In the years before the project, residents faced higher living costs than many other towns in the province, a factor that compounded daily frustrations and influenced economic decisions. The mayor described these conditions with a steady, practical tone, underscoring how the new link would help anchor prices, reduce friction for families, and create a more predictable environment for business and tourism alike.
Keeping a promise to the people
From the outset of his tenure, Żmurkiewicz emphasized that building a lasting connection between Uznam and Wolin was not a personal victory but a collective achievement. He framed the project as a public commitment fulfilled through teamwork and persistence. The mayor explained that for this investment to move forward, it required more than one individual’s will; it demanded the alignment of multiple institutions, stakeholders, and decisions that shaped the city’s long-term trajectory. The day to day progress, he said, relied on a chorus of moves by authorities who could envision the future and translate it into concrete action.
In recounting the journey, Żmurkiewicz recalled crucial moments from 2007 when Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński visited Świnoujście. The city presented the challenge of dozens of cars waiting to cross, a scene that underscored the urgency of a robust solution. The prime minister reportedly asked whether this was a temporary anomaly or a systemic issue, and the mayor answered with a straightforward assessment: this was a daily reality that required decisive intervention. The Prime Minister publicly affirmed that Świnoujście must be connected to Poland, calling it a matter of national significance. The statement, captured on camera, crystallized a turning point and spurred practical efforts to secure funding, finalize contracts, and move the project toward implementation.
The mayor reflected that this public declaration helped galvanize the process. He described a sequence of steps that followed: mobilizing resources, negotiating with contractors, and advancing the project through the necessary administrative and logistical stages. The sense of momentum grew as commitments were translated into real progress, leading to a hopeful conclusion for residents who had waited so long for the transformation. The happiness in hindsight, he added, is a testament to the patient labor of many hands and minds working toward a shared goal.
Reactions on the other side of the border
The opening of the tunnel also drew attention from Germany, where neighboring communities and travelers began to perceive changes in cross-border travel patterns. Żmurkiewicz noted that German visitors and residents showed interest in the new link and the potential for altered travel routes. He observed that the interaction was not only about logistics but about a broader shift in how people choose to reach coastal destinations and how regional tourism might adapt to a more seamless connection between the Polish islands and the mainland beyond.
According to the mayor, German partners and travelers face their own set of considerations, including the practicalities of route planning and the allure of nearby destinations. While some tourists previously traveled through Poland to reach Świnoujście from Germany, the new link could change that dynamic, encouraging a broader exchange of visitors and extending the city’s appeal. He described a growing interest from holidaymakers and the broader tourism sector, suggesting that the improved infrastructure would help spread visitor traffic more evenly and support local businesses as the area becomes more accessible.
The overall outlook, Żmurkiewicz added, is one of broad transformation. The open connection is not just a physical feat; it represents a tightening of regional ties and a more integrated transit network that benefits residents, visitors, and neighboring neighbors alike. The conversation around the tunnel, he concluded, is really about strengthening Poland’s eastern Adriatic-like corridor in microcosm, with Świnoujście standing as a pivotal point in the broader regional map. This evolution, he asserted, would bring sustained benefits for years to come, with the project standing as a practical symbol of cooperation and common purpose.
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Source: wPolityce