Why construction takes place faster in Poland than in Germany

Less bureaucracy, easier planning Why construction takes place faster in Poland than in Germany As of: November 14, 2026 • 8:24 a.m

If a new road or bridge is built in Poland, it will be done much faster than west of the Oder in Germany. According to experts, there are several reasons for this.

Anyone driving from Brandenburg via the A11 to Szczecin - the former Stettin - will pass under the shell of a new bridge just behind the German-Polish border near Kołbaskowo. A new bypass road will one day run over it: the newest section of the S6 expressway, the western bypass of Stettin.

When it is finished, it should free the western Polish city of large parts of through traffic. In addition, this final, 50-kilometer section will complete the S6 - one of the numerous expressways and motorways that have been built in Poland over the past 20 years.

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In West Pomerania alone, the area that directly borders Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and parts of Brandenburg, the highway network has increased almost tenfold since 2006. 20 years ago, the region had just 48 kilometers of motorways and expressways - in 2026 there were 468 kilometers.

On the one hand, the figures show: Poland had an enormous amount of catching up to do, especially in the relatively poorly populated west of the country. The speed at which new routes were planned, approved and built is remarkable - at least compared to the often invoked "Germany speed". The “Poland pace” is significantly higher than its larger neighbor to the west.

If you want to find out why, you can ask Mateusz Grzeszczuk, for example. He works for the Road Directorate GDDKiA, the General Directorate for State Roads and Motorways. Grzeszczuk stands under a bright blue sky in the autumn sun in front of a newly built bridge on the S6 and explains why the planning for the structure was relatively easy.

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“There were no major problems here because there are practically only fields around us,” he says, pointing to the largely empty landscape. Planning for undeveloped areas is much less complicated than for areas that are already built up or even inhabited, "such as the Ruhr area in western Germany," says Grzeszczuk. There it is “of course much more complicated due to the building density and the existing settlement structures”.

But the sparse population is not the most important reason for the “Poland pace”. Artur Barczewski works as a lawyer in Poland and Germany and specializes in construction law. In his dissertation ("The exclusion of addendums in flat-rate construction contracts under Polish law", 2020) at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), he dealt with the special features of Polish construction law.

For Barczewski, the most important reason for the rapid construction in Poland is the fact that planning and execution usually come from a single source: the contractor. "He then has to carry out everything he has planned. And he also has the security of his own planning." This process is called “Design and Build”, in German: “Planen und Bauen”.

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In Germany, on the other hand, there are regular problems between planning offices and construction companies, including disputes in court. All of this leads to trouble, delays and higher costs. This conflict does not exist in Poland because the same company is responsible for both. “This susceptibility to disruption does not exist,” explains Barczewski.

He also sees other differences between the countries. "So maybe the Polish attitude, but that's not a legal question." Highway construction often takes place around the clock. “Many construction projects are built in a three-layer system,” he explains. In Germany, on the other hand, “we often only work eight hours”.

Official approvals would also simply be issued more quickly. Barczewski, who is familiar with both legal systems, summarizes his experiences as follows: Building on both sides of the Oder is a complex matter, especially in the planning phase. But: “There are too many formalities in the administrative procedure on the German side,” said the lawyer.

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Jörg Rösler, board member of the construction group STRABAG, also confirms that “approval processes are organized more leanly”. The Austrian-based company is active throughout Europe. Also in Poland for almost 40 years. The country is now one of the most important markets for STRABAG. Last year the company built roads and buildings there for the equivalent of 1.9 billion euros.

Polish bodies are quicker in the approval phase, especially when it comes to road and civil engineering. “The differences between Poland and Germany are particularly clear here,” said Rösler. In Germany, plan approval procedures are more complex, public participation is particularly extensive and the requirements for environmental and nature conservation are high. Therefore, “there are often many years between planning and the start of construction.”

According to Rösler, the faster pace of construction in Poland is largely due to the “design and build” approach that is common there. “This means that projects can be started earlier and changes can be implemented more quickly,” explains the board. In Germany, however, "incorrect planning is often the cause of project delays."

When asked what Germany could learn from its neighboring country when it comes to construction, Rösler replied: "It would certainly be helpful if Germany also focused more on 'design and build'."

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By the way, the “Poland pace” doesn’t just apply to roads and bridges. According to construction lawyer Barczewski, private individuals also benefit from the higher speed in offices and authorities.

In Poland there are other options than in Germany for obtaining a quick building permit. "For example, for a house builder, he gets a building permit within a few months." In Germany you usually have to wait longer.

This topic in the program: rbb 24 | Brandenburg current | 11/06/2026 | 7:30 p.m