WARSAW, Poland – An airport spokesman says that dozens of World War II German artillery shells have been found at the site where a new runway is to be built in southern Poland.

Katowice airport spokesman Cezary Orzech told The Associated Press on Monday that “large quantities” of shells have been found since the work began last week. The shells are removed to a test range and detonated.

The area housed German artillery during the war and Soviet Red Army afterwards.

Orzech said the airport needs a new 3.2 kilometre (1.9 mile) runway to handle large cargo planes. It should open in the second half of next year.