Border checks with Germany. "It could be worse on weekends."

Border controls are nothing new to residents of the western part of the country. Since October 2023, Germany has been introducing its own border controls with Poland. This means that travelers can now be checked on both the Polish and German sides. We traveled to the western border to see the situation firsthand. We visited the crossings in Radomierzyce, on the bridge between Zgorzelec and Görlitz, and the highway crossing in Jędrzychowice on the A4.

The A4 motorway journey to Germany involved a longer journey time. In the afternoon, despite lighter traffic, it took us 40 minutes to reach the German side. Previously, the traffic jam had been as long as eight kilometers. During our visit, we were not subject to any traffic checks. The return journey to Poland was smoother. The narrowing to a single lane and the checkpoint did not cause any major disruptions.

At the border bridge in Radomierzyce, checkpoints are located on both the German and Polish sides. Vehicles are checked randomly, which prevents delays. A similar situation exists in Zgorzelec, where the border can be crossed in three places: on foot on the Staromiejski Bridge, by car in the city center, and by train. We did not observe excessive waiting times at any of these crossings.

We spoke with residents of Zgorzelec who cross the border daily. Mr. Grzegorz, who works in Germany, emphasizes that the current checks are not a problem. "I was returning from work across the bridge in Zgorzelec and there was no traffic jam. The checks introduced by the Germans in the fall of 2023 are a much greater obstacle. They extend travel times," he says.

However, not everyone is optimistic. Many residents remember the difficulties associated with border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and fear the situation could worsen, especially on weekends.

Tomasz Jankowski, spokesman for the Lower Silesian Voivode, summarized the first day of the new regulations: "During the first 24 hours, 307 people and 114 vehicles were checked at Lower Silesian police stations. Checks are being conducted selectively to minimize their impact on the daily lives of residents and the operation of businesses. As a result, we haven't experienced any major congestion," he reported.

Experts predict that weekends may pose the greatest challenge, as traffic at border crossings increases significantly. If congestion occurs on the A4 motorway, drivers may attempt detours through cities, potentially causing traffic jams on the roads entering Poland. Although the situation in Lower Silesia currently appears stable, the long-term effects of the temporary controls remain an open question.

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Bus inspection at the border in Radomierzyce.

Radomierzyce: post on the Polish side of the border bridge.