Bridge to Sobieszewo Island

The long-awaited construction of the new bridge joining Sobieszewo Island and the land has finally begun. The groundbreaking ceremony for this long-awaited investment took place on September 17th 2016 at noon. After the official celebrations, a family picnic took place, with little shovel-souvenirs for the first 500 guests.

Symbolic ‘’first shovels’’ were dug into the ground not only by the official guests, such as Kazimierz Smoliński, from Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction, Dariusz Drelich, the governor of Pomeranian voivodeship, Paweł Adamowicz, the mayor of Gdańsk and Małgorzata Sinica, the head of Polish Scouting and Guiding Association; but also the citizens of Sobieszewo.

‘When we had signed the intention documents about this construction on this very site two years ago, a few believed this plan will, in fact, succeed’ said Paweł Adamowicz opening the celebrations. ‘But promises must be kept, when they are objective and realistic. The construction which begins today, will serve its purpose not only for the citizens of Sobieszewo Island, but also for the scouts, who bid for the organization of the World Scout Jamboree in 2023. It was one of the key points for negotiations in financing this investment form the governmental funds’ stressed the mayor. ‘We received 16.6 mln PLN of subvention – thank you, Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction. Dear Minister – we will certainly apply for the money next year as well’.

Kazimierz Smoliński replied: ‘Congratulations on this investment, which is largely financed by the city council. I hope this subsidy will not be the last time we support the construction of this bridge’.

‘Our Association teaches young people not to be afraid to dream. Right now, our dream is to gather 40,000 scouts form 160 countries right here, on Sobieszewo Island’ said Małgorzata Sinica, the head of Polish Scouting and Guiding Association. ‘Regardless of the final decision on this matter, we are looking forward to come here with 12,000 Polish scouts to celebrate the Association’s centenary. Bridges and education know no politics’, she said.

Right after the groundbreaking ceremony, the Minister, the governor, MP Małgorzata Chmiel and the mayor all signed the declaration of cooperation in the preparation of World Scout Jamboree on Sobieszewo Island.
The ceremony ended with the firemen dragging rope from the land to the island on a boat – marking the place of the future bridge.

Za: www.gdansk.pl