Mszana Motorway Bridge

The Mszana Motorway Bridge, known as Bridge MA 532, is a unique engineering structure located at the 555.84-kilometer mark of the A1 Motorway in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. It was built over the Kolejówka Valley and is recognized as the widest extradosed bridge in the world, with a width ranging from 38.58 m to 47.45 m and a length of 402.5 m. The structure combines features of both beam and cable-stayed bridges, with its architectural qualities highlighted by a textured concrete-steel design reaching 15.1 m above the deck level. The bridge, which is part of the Mszana Junction, is future-proofed with reserved space for a potential third traffic lane. Construction began on October 16, 2007, but the project faced numerous controversies and delays, resulting in the bridge opening to traffic only on May 23, 2014. The project was criticized by experts, leading to design modifications and additional construction work carried out by various consortia. The bridge features innovative solutions, including wind indicators for drivers and specific traffic conditions such as speed restrictions. Although the bridge's design is spectacular, it is not illuminated at night, raising questions about future development and the potential addition of lighting to improve safety. The total construction cost of the bridge exceeded 120 million PLN.