In particular, during the meeting held on October 28, the parties discussed issues related to the construction of a road, an alternative to the Goris-Kapan highway, the North-South highway, the Persian Gulf–Black Sea transport corridor. The parties noted the importance of implementing all these programs.

In turn, Ghasemi expressed the readiness of the Iranian side to cooperate. He thanked the Armenian Ambassador for the work done, expressing hope that the diplomat will continue to promote Armenian-Iranian cooperation and the implementation of bilateral programs in the future.

Belarus

More than 10 km of forestry roads will be put into operation by the end of the year in the Vitebsk region

Belta by, 26.10.2021

Two-thirds of the planned forestry roads in the Vitebsk region were put into operation in almost 10 months of this year. Natalia Gornak, construction engineer of the Vitebsk State Forestry Production Association (GPLHO), told BelTA about this.

The Ministry of Forestry of Belarus for the Vitebsk region this year was given the task to build more than 31 km of new forestry roads. "The landscape of the region is specific: many territories are swampy, and therefore impassable. Harvesting of wood, forest care measures and especially fire extinguishing in such areas are difficult, including for the passage of special equipment. Forestry roads are being built in the Vitebsk region to access the most problematic areas in the forest area. As of October 25, 21 km of such roads were put into operation," Natalia Gornak noted.

The road for forestry needs has a sand-gravel surface with a standard roadway width of 5 m. However, the Lepel forestry completed the construction of a road with a non-standard width of 6.5 m. This expansion allows you to increase the passability of massive special equipment and allows cars to leave without having to turn into a special "pocket" to give way. Lepel Forestry this year has become a leader in the construction of forestry roads. In addition to the completed one, two more roads are being built here. Their commissioning is planned in 2022. Also, several more roads are being designed in this forestry institution, which will be built in the next two years.

In November, after reconstruction, the routes R-53 to Smolevichi and R-23 to Soligorsk will be put into operation

SB, 30.10.2021

The reconstruction of the section of the R-53 Sloboda— Novosady highway connecting Minsk and the satellite city of Smolevichi, as well as the section from Slutsk to Soligorsk of the R-23 Minsk-Mikashevichi highway has been completed. Both roads are of the first category, with two lanes in each direction, modern and safe infrastructure: aboveground and underground passages, interchanges and tunnels are equipped. They have been modernized at the expense of the republican and local budgets, as well as with borrowed funds from the Development Bank. Drivers can already enjoy a trip on first-class roads, the commissioning of which is scheduled for November. On the eve of the Day of the Motorist and Road Worker, our correspondents looked at how the final works on the improvement of new highways are going. 

The new concrete is durable. Concrete coating increases the repair period. The estimated service life is more than 25 years. A kilometer of concrete road is more expensive than paved, but in the long run it is justified. Due to the wide inter-repair period. Asphalt concrete must be changed in 7-8 years. This means that it will become cheaper to maintain the road. And on hot summer days, there is no need to restrict movement on the concrete due to thermal loads.

All intersections on the road to Smolevichi are at different levels. This is traffic safety, villages are closely adjacent to the highway. Therefore, an overpass, underground and aboveground pedestrian crossings, a transport tunnel, barrier fencing, lighting at interchanges, noise screens have been equipped. As of today, all work has been completed — preparations are underway for commissioning. Now workers are improving the slopes, planting trees and shrubs, restoring order.

The section of the R-23 highway from Slutsk to Soligorsk will also be put into operation in November. Now there is a wide high-quality highway from Minsk almost to Soligorsk. The sixth stage of the reconstruction of the highway, the last stage at the moment, was also carried out by the Road Construction Trust No. 5. The reconstruction began in August last year. 40,668,000 rubles and more than 104,000 tons of asphalt concrete were spent on a 7.98-kilometer stretch. 

The highway is also of the first category — four lanes. However, it is not concrete, but paved.

The plans for the five—year plan include the construction of transport bypasses of the World and Vitebsk, as well as the reconstruction of such a large object as the M-3 Minsk— Vitebsk highway on the Minsk— Pleshchenitsy section. The Eurasian Development Bank expresses interest in financing this project. Active negotiations are underway with him now. In addition, the Ministry of Transport is considering the possibility of attracting funds from the Export-Import Bank of China for the reconstruction of the R-46 road on the Lepel—Polotsk section with the construction of a bypass and a bridge across the Dvina.
According to the plan, the reconstruction of bridge structures is also underway. Over the coming five-year period, it is planned to improve the transport and operational condition of 107 bridge structures on republican roads and 137 on local roads.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan and Russia discussed prospects for the development of border roads

Gov Kz, 25.10.2021

A working meeting was held in Omsk, during which representatives of Kazakhstan and Russia agreed to synchronize plans for road works. The Kazakh delegation was headed by Tolegen Abdullin, Chairman of the Committee of Highways of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Russian delegation was headed by Andrey Samaryanov, Deputy Head of the Federal Road Agency RosAvtoDor.

During the meeting, the parties agreed to determine the most priority directions on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, taking into account the need for the development of highways included in the international corridor "Europe – Western China" and the Meridian highway, as well as highways that are entrances to checkpoints on the Russian-Kazakh border.

At the meeting, the parties also discussed and shared plans for the development of international automobile checkpoints. The Kazakh side informed about the ongoing work on the development of design and estimate documentation at 6 checkpoints. In turn, Rosavtodor reported on the planned design work next year.    

In addition, the draft intergovernmental agreement on cooperation on the development of border sections of highways leading to the Russian-Kazakh border was considered.