Ilsur Metshin: «We are completing the reconstruction of the Gorkovsky Highway»

The reconstruction of the Gorkovsky Highway is 95% complete. The road surface has been repaired, sidewalks have been installed, a three-level interchange, U-turn loops and other elements are finished. The cladding of six above-ground and four under-ground crossings is underway, as well as the construction of a tunnel under the railway bridge. Every day, 86 road workers and 24 vehicles are working at the site. Mayor Ilsur Metshin inspected the progress during the site visit. He noted that the reconstruction will double the capacity of the highway.

The head of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, thanked the Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the government of the republic and the country: 27.1 billion rubles were allocated for the work.

«We are completing the reconstruction of the Gorkovsky Highway. This is an important event for the entire city's transport system. In two years, tremendous work has been carried out at an area of 11.5 kilometers that lead to the federal highway M7. It is also a favorite destination for Kazan residents to cottages and to Salavat Kupere residential area. The road of life that we and our predecessors dreamed of», – the Mayor said. «It is 95% ready, we are at the finish line. I think we will get permission to put into operation in early December and open traffic».

After the completion of the project, the capacity of the road will double. This will allow to reduce congestion and traffic jams, thanks to the implementation of a complex of new road structures.

For the first time in Tatarstan, a three-level interchange project has been implemented. It was built on the site of the old Gorkovsky Ring, and includes three U-turn loops, including a two-level loop, an overpass, a tunnel, and five above-ground and three below-ground pedestrian crossings. In addition, one more crossing of each type has been repaired. All crossings are equipped with ramps for wheelchairs and bicycles, and elevators are also being installed for people with disabilities.

The road has been widened to six lanes, with three in each direction. It wil allow to double the capacity of the road to 11,000 cars per hour. In addition, a 3- 4.5-meter-wide sidewalk has been installed for pedestrians and a 1.5-meter bike lane has been equipped. The builders are now working on the most challenging part of the project – the construction of a bicycle tunnel under the railway bridge.

The difficulty of the reconstruction was the removal of existing utilities (water, sewage and stormwater networks) and the installation of new ones. In order to restart traffic, it was necessary to provide alternative routes for residents. All work on the utilities has now been completed. Additionally, noise barriers have been installed along the route.

Gorkovsky Highway is a vital transportation artery for the city, connecting approximately 140,000 people, including residents of the Kirovsky district, Salavat Kupere, Zalesny, and Yudino.