DZERZHINSK DISTRICT, 5 November (BelTA) – Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko commented on the plans to develop the road network in Belarus as he talked to journalists on 5 November, BelTA has learned.
"Over the past years, Belarus has done a tremendous job to develop the road network, especially trunk roads. We are not going to slow down this five-year term. We have approved quite ambitious indicators. During the past five-year term (2017-2020) we upgraded about 250km of national roads to the first category and built 2,000 running meters of bridge structures. In 2021-2025 the volumes are twice as high. We are set to upgrade more than 500km of national roads to the first category and 7,000 running meters of bridge structures. We are on schedule. We look set to meet all the targets," Roman Golovchenko said.
Among the priority objects are the Minsk-Pleshchenitsy section of the M3 highway and the Lepel-Polotsk highway with the construction of the Polotsk bypass, and the Vitebsk-Orsha section. "Reconstruction of the P53 section from the Mound of Glory to Smolevichi will be completed soon. There is a need to continue the reconstruction, taking into account intensive passenger and cargo traffic from Smolevichi to Zhodzina. Development of project documentation is already in progress. There are also plans to build a bypass around the town of Mir," the prime minister said.
“We are also planning a major overhaul of the M1 highway. As the project requires a lot of resources, we are currently working on financing mechanisms. At the end of last year, we commissioned a feasibility study, which will then be followed by project design work,” Roman Golovchenko informed.
According to him, a lot of attention is paid to local roads. Some 7,000km of local roads will be repaired this five-year term. The prime minister noted that in Belarus almost 100% of the population lives within2 km of the nearest paved road.
