Budimex completes work on the Polish-Belarusian border wall

Budimex is the contractor for the 105 km wall on the Polish-Belarusian border in accordance with the provisions of the agreement with the Polish Border Guard. The wall forms part of the eastern border of the European Union and NATO. The work had been in progress since January this year and was completed on time.

Budimex was responsible for the construction of the longer, almost 106 km long section of the wall on the border with Belarus. During the past five months of intensive work, the project included:

• embedding nearly 22,000 concrete foundation piles in the ground,
• the same number (almost 22,000) of steel piles were installed,
• more than 22,000 steel spans of 5 and 2.5 m in height were installed.
• more than 105 km of service roads were constructed along the state border.
• This created a physical barrier with a total length of 105.55 km.

‘We are the proud contractor of a very unusual infrastructural facility, which we came to carry out under exceptional conditions, both in terms of geopolitics and pandemics and, above all, terrain. Working in a no-go zone, additionally in part running through the strictly protected Białowieża Forest, meant that we had to implement many above-normal procedures and a special approach. The project involved 200 equipment units and 500 people. They were responsible, for example, for maintaining the pace of the work or the full logistics of material deliveries, while taking full care of the environment entrusted to them for the duration of the project. I am glad that Budimex's proven team of professionals has once again proved its skills’, says Artur Popko, President of Budimex S.A.

Being aware of the specificity of the construction being carried out, Budimex additionally decided to make use of the services of an environmental supervisor (NPW) on an optional basis, which, prior to the commencement of works, thoroughly analysed and consulted with the Directorate of the Białowieża National Park, the Institute of Mammal Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Białowieża, the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Białystok on potential threats and suggested appropriate remedial measures in the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP). In the course of numerous inspections, the assessment of the environmental safeguards put in place by Budimex was positive, and all suggestions made by the administrative bodies were promptly implemented.

In the course of construction works, Budimex employees protected, as far as possible on an ongoing basis, flora and fauna adjacent to the construction site and access roads (e.g. trees, anthills) and other objects (e.g. places of religious worship) from potential damage by heavy equipment. Trees along the access roads were draped with protection to protect them from damage. During construction, the stork nests were also relocated at the request of the municipal authorities so that the birds could operate freely in a safe environment.

The construction of the wall also took place in an atmosphere of active and constructive dialogue with the local authorities of the municipalities and districts concerned. Thanks to these consultations, access roads to the construction sites were modified. Thanks to the dialogue with the local communities, the locations of some storage sites were also changed, and additional safeguards were introduced for local religious sites and natural monuments.

Information was provided on the progress of the works in such a way that they did not cause undue hardship to local residents. In locations where heavy equipment could not be moved out of the built-up area, measures were taken to improve the quality of life for the local community and serve them for years to come. As requested by representatives of one municipality, picnic shelters or outdoor gyms will be built.

The areas used by Budimex employees and the subcontractors involved, i.e. access roads or storage yards, are currently being restored to their pre-construction condition. With the start of construction, a detailed site inventory was carried out in the area. During the course of the works, it was assessed on an ongoing basis with representatives of the municipalities which roads should be repaired by Budimex so that the company's investment would not mean a degradation of the local infrastructure. The roads that were used by Budimex under the agreed agreements will soon be restored to their pre-investment condition.