Evaluation of changes in the spatial structure of farms caused by taking over part of land for motorway belt on example of A1 motorway

Estimation of the influence of motorway construction on the changes of agricultural land usefulness was carried out using simplified method elaborated by the author. It is based on the analysis of the course of the motorway axis and on the use of essential parameters such as width of the total land requirement, plots layout, or the arrangement of the roads and viaducts. Also other features of the land were taken into consideration. They inform about the agricultural usefulness of the land and may be used by determination of consequences of such investment realisation. Analysis was performed on a road section in the vicinity of Łódź. The road runs across seven villages in two communes - Stryków and Nowosolna. The sec-tion length is equal 7.145 km. The road section under consideration is divided in two parts depending on the commune in which is situated. The motorway runs for the most part through the arable land of the average class. It crosses 21 roads. 5 of them will be equipped with viaducts. The average distance between roads will be increased four times. Profit-making value will be reduced on the area of 300.92 hectars. ...