Poland has unveiled a plan to construct a $246m canal that would allow ships to save time with port calls in the Baltic Sea.
The 1.3km waterway will cut across the Vistula Spit, a strip of land separating the open water of Gdansk Bay from the Vistula lagoon.
The only way in to the lagoon and the Polish port of Elblag is through the Strait of Baltiysk in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad further north.
Radio Poland reported the ruling conservatives said on Tuesday they are set to go ahead with work to build the canal.
Officials have marked out the route in a ceremony.
The waterway will be five metres deep.
The PAP news agency quoted maritime economy and inland navigation minister Marek Grobarczyk as saying that design work had already been completed for the canal.
"Essentially, we can go ahead with the project while, of course, waiting for the final building permit decision," Grobarczyk added.
He added the project showed that Russia could no longer dictate what the country can do.
The waterway is expected to be completed in 2022.
