The Nizhny Novgorod region implements major projects in the development of the region's road network.

      The Russian Ministry of Transport held a working meeting between Minister Andrey Nikitin and the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Gleb Nikitin. Discussions focused on the construction and major repairs of roads in the region and bringing them up to standard.

      The Presidential decree aims to achieve 85% of support network roads and major arterial roads in large urban areas, and 60% of regional roads, by 2030.

      The total length of regional roads in Nizhny Novgorod is nearly 13,000 km, with 12,680.3 km (98.1%) having upgraded surface types. To reach the 60% target by 2030, 2,300 km of regional roads need to be brought up to standard between 2025 and 2030.

      The total government support for bringing regional roads up to standard and new construction in 2025 amounts to 5.6 billion rubles.

      "Developing the regional road network is crucial for the region's growth and requires a comprehensive approach. For Nizhny Novgorod, this involves repairs, construction, and reconstruction of federal and regional roads, as well as major highways in the city. The ultimate goal is to align the transport network with the demands of society and the economy," noted Andrey Nikitin.

      To date, phases I and III of the southern bypass of Nizhny Novgorod have been commissioned. During construction, 7 km of the existing M-7 "Volga" segment from km 465 to 473 were reconstructed and expanded to four lanes. The implementation of phases II and IV is under consideration. The total length of the four-lane road is 28 km, category IB.

      An important task is expanding the R-158 highway section from the southern bypass of Nizhny Novgorod to Arzamas. Design documentation has been developed for repairs and widening from 2 to 4 lanes over three sections totaling 62 km. Construction work is ongoing on 37 km, with the first 6 km already commissioned. The total length of R-158 in the region is 225 km.

      On the federal highway R-177 "Povetluzhye," connecting Nizhny Novgorod and the Mari El Republic, large-scale work has been completed to bring a 40 km section and its infrastructure to standard.

      One of the largest regional projects today is the construction of an overpass over railway tracks in Arzamas. The project is nearing completion. This interchange will eliminate a hazardous section leading to the pilgrimage site of Diveevo.

      The issue of completing the bypass around Balakhna has also been discussed. This road will improve connectivity, accelerate development of the Nizhny Novgorod metropolitan area, and remove transport barriers with neighboring regions. The bypass will be approximately 25 km long.

      The project for constructing duplicate routes for Lenin Prospect and Gagarin Avenue in Nizhny Novgorod was considered, including opportunities to use infrastructure-backed loans for such projects.

      Constructing a highway street – a duplicate of Lenin Avenue – in the city center is essential for reliable transportation links between the Autozavodsky, Leninsky, and Kanavinsky districts, along with their industrial zones, given increased traffic volumes.

      Gagarin Avenue is the only major route connecting residential and industrial areas along the Volga River to the city’s business and historical centers. It provides access to the R-158 highway leading to Saratov and supports connections to the M-12 "East" highway and the pilgrimage tourism cluster "Arzamas-Diveevo-Sarov." The duplication's construction is planned considering the expected traffic growth up to 110,000 vehicles per day by 2030. The route length is 14.1 km.

      "Region actively uses all federal support tools for transport development. Within the framework of urban electric transport development, 82 km of tram tracks and three traction substations have been reconstructed, and support from the Ministry of Transport has enabled the purchase of 835 units of public transport rolling stock. We continue to develop interregional air travel and river passenger services," said Gleb Nikitin, governor of Nizhny Novgorod region.

      As part of the passenger air transport support program, in 2024, carriers transported 115,892 passengers to and from Nizhny Novgorod across 15 routes. The program is ongoing.

      The region is involved in the "River Routes" project aimed at reviving high-speed interregional passenger transportation along the Volga. In 2024, six subsidized routes from Nizhny Novgorod were launched, with ticketing through a unified system. A total of 108 trips carried 13,702 passengers. This year, plans include expanding routes from Nizhny Novgorod to Yaroslavl.

      Source: press service of the Russian Ministry of Transport