Poland Changes Plans for Major Highway

Poland says it will re-route plans for a major highway away from one of Europe's last unspoiled wetlands.

Environment Minister Maciej Nowicki said Tuesday the new route is cheaper than the original plans and makes the highway just two kilometers longer.

He says he will ask the European Union to stop its lawsuit aimed at forcing Poland to cancel the highway.

Poland had originally planned to build its section of the Via Baltica on pillars through the Rospuda Valley - a pristine peat bog home to rare plants and eagles, wolves, and lynx.

The plans outraged environmentalists and brought legal action from the EU.

Residents of the northern town of Augustow are demanding a highway, saying heavy truck traffic is destroying their city.

The Via Baltica will link Poland with Finland.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.