A series of key road projects are underway in Russia

A series of major road projects are planned for various parts of Russia that will improve connectivity. These include the Moscow-St Petersburg highway, work to the transportation system in the Rostov region and a new bridge over the Belaya River in Ufa. The tender process for the contract to build, maintain, repair, and operate a section of the Moscow- St Petersburg highway has been announced by 3974 Avtodor. The section is from the 334th to the 543th kilometre. The contract will call for the construction work to be carried out from 2014-2018. The cost of the work is expected to be in the order of US$4.46 billion. The contractor will maintain the road, toll collection system, and automated traffic control system for 22 years after construction finishes. The tender agreement will be signed in mid-December 2013. Meanwhile over $23.4 billion will be invested in the transport system of the Rostov region as part a transport system development strategy planned until 2030. The strategy will be carried out in three stages. The first phase will take place from 2013-2015, and will include: development of public-private partnership, road safety improvement, motor road chain expansion, and preparation for large-scale investment projects. Finally, contractor Uralmostostroy has won the tender to build the Zatonsky bridge over the Belaya River in Ufa (Volga) for $143 million.