Leszno is preparing to buy land for a planned ring road in the Przyjaźń housing estate after legal hurdles made a free transfer of the plots effectively impossible, pushing the city into a slower, more expensive route that could delay construction until 2028-2029.
Leszno plans paid land purchase for ring road
The shift matters because the project is not just about easing local traffic. City president Grzegorz Rusiecki said thousands of residents use the road every day, and the route serves key public facilities, including Primary School No. 12, access to the cemetery and nearby shops, while also improving access for emergency services.
The municipality had initially looked at acquiring the land without payment, but Rusiecki said that option collapsed because all owners would have to agree and, in some cases, heirs have not even been formally identified in probate proceedings. The city now plans to negotiate with the housing cooperative on a paid transfer of the land.
That makes the project more capital-intensive and prolongs the timeline, but it also gives Leszno a clearer path to finally upgrading a congested estate road. The city said it will focus on the roadway itself, while the cooperative would handle the residential-adjacent areas.
For residents, one immediate concern appears to be off the table: Rusiecki said the city does not plan to introduce parking fees in the area. He also said the new road should reduce pressure on the existing Estkowskiego stretch, leaving it mainly for local traffic.
The next catalyst is bureaucratic rather than political: project design and land purchases must be completed before any physical works can begin. If that process runs smoothly next year, the earliest construction start would still be 2028.
| Entity | Gains | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Leszno city hall | ▲Better traffic flow | ▼Higher land-acquisition costs |
| Przyjaźń residents | ▲Easier access, less congestion | ▼Longer wait for construction |
| Housing cooperative / landowners | ▲Cash from sale | ▼Loss of control over plots |
| Schools, cemetery, emergency services | ▲Improved access routes | ▼Continued dependence on current roads |
