Those awaiting the annual winter timeline have to carry on patiently until
1 May 2022. Looking at the weather in April 2022, I have resolved to include
the statistics for the entire month in my records. Besides, where is a little
chance for the last gasp of winter in the coming days.
But last Thursday, when temperature topped above +21C, I made the most
of the blast of spring, knocked off at 4:00 p.m. and cycled south of Warsaw to
inspect the progress of S7 construction, on so-called section A, between Warszawa Południe and Lesznowola junctions.
The road is scheduled to be opened for traffic in October 2022 and
judging by the current progress of works, the deadline is within reach. To the
right – the first stop, a on service road (closed for traffic) running parallel
to the expressway, south of ul. Baletowa.
Sound barriers (ugly, grey concrete) are up, grass has been sown (or laid) on the
slopes of viaducts carrying S7.
The first junction south of Warszawa
Południe, i.e. Zamienie has been
opened for the local traffic some time ago. Sadly, the new roads are anything,
but cyclist-friendly and motorists do not give a damn about the 40 kmph speed
limit. Hence I illegally trespassed into slip roads, to see how the works were
going (and indeed builders toiled away).
I thought I would cycle through rural areas of Zamienie, along terraced houses, but soon I ran across this estate
of block of flats. I hold the view if one decides to move to the distant outskirts
of a city, one trades drawbacks of living in a block of flat for other
drawbacks and for merit of living in a house with a garden. Asking prices of
flats on Zielone Zamienie housing
estate begin from 6,865 zlotys per square metre.
I thought underground garages have become a standard in new, civilised
developments. Car are parked underground (with all benefits of convenience and
protection from the elements of weather), while spaces around buildings are
green areas which serve as leisure spaces for residences. Not in Zielone Zamienie premises – here the
greenery had to give way to concrete car parks which surround the buildings from
all sides.
Yes, it was supposed to be about the S7 construction, but instead of
heading towards a viaduct above S7, my curiosity told me to cycle down ul. Pionowa in Nowa Wola. A yet another example of an estate built in the middle
of nowhere. I hope at least the local dwellers have a grocery shop in the area.
Do not ask where the nearest public transport stop is (I believe the correct
answer is “around 2 miles / 3 kilometres from there”).
A short stopover in my trip (31 kilometres being the longest ride this
year) by a pond in Nowa Wola. Behind
it, a classic volunteer firemen’s station (remiza
Ochotniczej Straży Pożarnej), with a classic watch tower. The rural area
has its charm, felt most a warm spring late afternoon.
Having pedalled south, I (again illegally) got into a viaduct which will
one day carry Droga Wojewódzka 721 dual
carriageway over the S7. Good they have built a full junction, a pity is will
be useless for years ahead. Here, looking south, S7 approaching Lesznowola junction. The progress of
works indicates opening the section in October is utterly doable.
A snap looking north, from basically the same spot. The junction with DW 721 has taken shape and after the S7
is opened, will become a monument of dismal coordination of public tenders in
Poland.
The last shot comes from a viaduct carrying a new road between Zamienie and Zgorzała or Nowa Wola.
Needless to say, I trespassed the area illegally. Except for looking at the
expressway and the service road, note the cranes in Zamienie which turn the village into a town with tens of blocks of
flats and the grey detached house west of S7. Who the hell has decided to settle
down so close to the noise and fumes from the fast traffic?
S7 will not give me much improvement. It may offer an alternative to ul. Puławska if I drive to my parents
(no traffic lights along the way mean driving at a steady speed and lower fuel
consumption if I drive at reasonable 90 – 100 kmph). To Kraków I go by train, trips
to other places in Poland are infrequent (no more than 3 times a year). I hope
once S7 takes the strain from ul. Puławska,
public transport is finally given priority on it (after opening the tunnel
beneath Ursynów as part of S2
expressway and setting up bus lanes in Dolinka
Służewiecka, traffic jams on the latter and not worse than with one lane
for passenger cars more, but without the tunnel).
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