Russian freeways are getting worse

Total amount of motor vehicles in Russia increases by 10% annually.

In the meantime, nearly 8 000 km of Russian freeways are overcrowded and the city's major transit freeways can no longer accommodate so much traffic. Head of the federal highway agency Anatoly Hasonov presented such information during a meeting of “Edinaya Rossiya.”

Currently, all federal, municipal and territorial freeways exceed 1,1 million km. Nearly 50 000 residential areas do not have all-year-round access to paved roads, noted A. Nasonov.

Prime costs of Russian freeways are 1,5 times greater in Russia than in any developed European country. Thereupon, maintenance as well as improvement of Russian road systems are the most important tasks of the freeway development program. In addition, it is important to improve the administrative system and budget spendings for freeway improvement, stated head of the agency.

Russian Prime-Minister Mikhail Fradkov is also concerned about the problems of Russian roads. According to him, half of Russian freeways are unsatisfactory.

According to the Russian Ministry of Transportation, if such gloomy statistics remain unchanged by 2010, more than 60% of Russian freeways will not meet the needed requirements for transportation.