Let's save Mazuria

NEWS

WE SAY ‘NO’ TO INTERNATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT THROUGH THE LAKE DISTRICT!

WHY ARE WE PROTESTING?

The S16 motorway wouldn’t be a road for the Mazury but rather through the region. It’s being designed as part of an international transit corridor that according to official data will attract three to four thousand heavy trailer trucks daily right from the day one.

For local communities the motorway will be accessible solely via a few interchanges and so of little use to them. It’s not the road local self-government bodies have been lobbying for. The S16 will hurt the region’s economy. International transit road will scare tourists away instead of attracting them, heavily damaging the livelihoods of many people living in towns and villages close to the proposed motorway.

WHAT DO WE WANT?

We want an open, fact-based discussion of the region’s transport needs. We object to recycling old projects and trying to stir conflict among local communities. We expect an up-to-date sustainable transport strategy for the Great Mazurian Lakes region.

We need new bespoke regional transport links as well as modernisation of existing road network, especially the S16 segment connecting Mrągowo, Orzysz, and Ełk. We need better surfaces, wider road shoulders, redesign of the most dangerous curves, introduction of additional take-over segments, redirecting the road outside inhabited areas and the thousands of trailer trucks – outside the Lake District altogether.

WHO ARE WE?

Jarek and his daughter Eliza

They live in Rybical near Ryn. Jarek runs a tourist business. Eliza is in high school in Giżycko. They both love sailing.

Maciej

Land surveyor in Bartoszyce, dad. He knows and loves Mazury since early childhood. He cherishes its tranquility and unspoiled nature.

Dominika and her daughter Marysia

They live in Mikołajki. Dominika is a ceramic artist, a sailor, and an Arctic explorer. Marysia is three, she loves swimming in lakes and reading books with Mom.

Piotr

He lives in Mikołajki and works at the Polish Academy of Sciences’ research station. A long time member of the Kłobuk Mikołajki football team, sailor, water sports fan, dad.

Justyna

Mieszkanka leśniczówki w gm. Skorupki w gminie Ryn. Gospodyni, mama, miłośniczka przyrody Mazur i spokojnego tempa życia.

Marek

Mieszkaniec Czerwonek w gm. Mrągowo. Emeryt, miłośnik kina i aktywista społeczny.

Ewa

Mieszkanka Rynu, przedsiębiorca budowlany (Okna Jocz). Miłośniczka sportów zimowych, uprawia narciarstwo biegowe, należy do grupy morsów.

Marcin

Mieszkaniec Ogródka w gm. Orzysz. Były zawodnik w skokach przez przeszkody. Hoduje konie jest żeglarzem i instruktorem żeglarstwa.

Dorota

Mieszkanka Kosewa w gm. Mrągowo. Pedagog z wykształcenia, trenerka umiejętności społecznych. Prowadzi ośrodek wypoczynkowy.

Dariusz

Mieszkaniec Ściborek w gm. Banie Mazurskie, indianista, ekolog, harcerz, survivalista, biegacz długodystansowy, mors, propagator zdrowego stylu życia. Prowadzi hodowlę psów rasy husky.

Marek i Karolina

Mieszkańcy Mikołajek. Marek jest stolarzem, współtwórcą Przechowalni Marzeń, w wolnym czasie wędkuje.
Karolina prowadzi bistro, jest przewodniczką po Mazurach, interesuje się historią i kulturą regionu.

Mirek

Mieszkaniec Rynu, samorządowiec, wieloletni nauczyciel. Żeglarz, instruktor żeglarstwa, pasjonat strzelectwa i historii Mazur.

MORE

HOW CAN YOU HELP SAVE MAZURY?

01.

Like our profile on Facebook "Ratujmy Mazury"

Invite your friends immediately. Explain to them in a few words what road planners are planning and why it is worth helping.

02.

Sign the petition

You can sign the petition in paper or electronic form on the website. You can find the petition on our website by selecting "petitions" from the menu.

03.

Stick the sticker on the back of the car

You can find out how to get the sticker by selecting "download materials" from the menu. Show all Poland that you support our action!

04.

YOU HAVE MORE TIME, WANT TO HELP?

Write us an e-mail, we will contact you and talk.

05.

DO YOU HAVE / CAFE / AGROTOURISM AND WANT TO SUPPORT US?

Perfectly! We need your help in particular. Go to the [download materials] tab. Check where you can pick up leaflets, posters and stickers. Hang a poster, hand out car leaflets and stickers. Encourage you to sign the petition. We are looking for places throughout Poland that will support us. From Giewont to Hel.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS

SAVE THE GREAT MAZURIAN LAKES!

SAY NO TO FREIGHT TRANSIT THROUGH THE MAZURY!

The plans to build a motorway right through the heart of the Mazury lake district are gaining momentum. A four-lane road and its enormous overpasses will irreversibly destroy protected habitats and spoil the unique landscape. Help us save this incredible place, sign our petitions to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Infrastructure.
#RatujmyMazury #SaveMazury

SIGN PETITION

THESE PLACES DISAPPEAR

Muntowo

One of the tallest terminal moraines in the Mazury Lake Disctrict will be destroyed to make way for a bridge over lake Juksty. The lake itself has been a motorboat-free zone for 15 years. Some villages will also suffer: Poręby, Czerwonki, and Piotrówka on the western shore and Śniadowo and Pełkowo in the east.

Kosewo

A small village between the lakes Probarskie (with motorboat ban), Kuc, and Juksty. One of the many places to lose its tourist potential as a result of the S16 construction, harming the livelihoods of the people living there. The motorway would run only meters away from some of the B&Bs and isolate the school building from the rest of the village.

Baranowo Pond Turtle Refuge

The eastern shore of lake Juksty marks the boundary of an EU-sanctioned Nature 2000 area protecting the habitat of the endangered European pond turtle.

Notyst, lake Ryn, Mrówki, Skanał cove

A famous scenic view will be destroyed and Mrówki village will lose its tourist appeal. The planned bridge will make sailing to the town of Ryn impossible. The motorway will be constructed right next to the Skanał cove, one of the most popular sailing spots in Mazury. The neighbouring wetlands will have to be bulldozed and filled.

Łuknajno Reserve

Łuknajno is one of the most valuable bird reserves in Europe. It’s protected under the Ramsar Convention, UNESCO programs, and the EU’s Nature 2000. The noise of thousands of heavy trailer trucks and the night lighting of the exit ramp will irreparably destroy the habitats of many endangered bird species.

Nietlice Wetland

An important refuge and breeding grounds of white-tailed eagle, black stork, black grouse, and spotted crake, it attracts bird-watchers from all over the world to the local B&Bs. Changing the hydrographic conditions here will also affect the Nature 2000 protected area on the eastern shore of lake Juksty.

Bridge over lake Orzysz

The structure will be just as destructive as the bridges on lakes Juksty, Ryn, Tałty, and Kraksztyn. Reinforcing the terrain, constructing embankments, and draining the wetlands will harm the nearby Orzysza creek.

Bridge over lake Kraksztyn, Klusy junction

The bridge – just as the structures over lakes Juksty, Ryn, Tałty, and Orzysz – will loom over the lake Kraksztyn and the neighboring lakes Druglin Duży and Lipińskie, both closed to motorboats. The nearby junction will destroy the cultural landscape of the villages of Klusy and Ogródek, where the charming museum of the poet Michał Kajka is located.

Chrzanowo junction

The motorway junction will bisect the village of Chrzanowo. The local ponds will be at least partially filled. The road will cut through the nearby Nature 2000 protected area Jezioro Woszczelskie.