The contractor completed the major overhaul of 23 km of the R-158 highway near Nizhny Novgorod.

      19 November 2025 18:23 Society

      The expansion to four lanes of a 23-km section of the R-158 federal highway Nizhny Novgorod–Saratov in the Nizhny Novgorod region has been completed, Rosavtodor reported.

      On November 19, within the framework of the XIX International Forum and Exhibition "Transport of Russia", Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin and the head of the Federal Road Agency Roman Novikov, via videoconference, launched traffic on the renovated section of the R-158 highway in the region.

      On behalf of the road sector, Roman Novikov thanked the Russian government for its extensive support of key infrastructure projects. He emphasized that the government and the Ministry of Transport of Russia pay special attention to major repairs and modernization of routes important to the country, including the R-158 Nizhny Novgorod–Saratov. According to him, as early as 2022 a large-scale modernization of this road began by government order, with a phased conversion to a four-lane configuration. One of the key stages was the major reconstruction of the section from km 77 to km 104 in the Arzamas urban district, with work carried out in 2024–2025. The head of Rosavtodor added that development of the route will continue and the expansion of the R-158 to four lanes along the entire stretch from Nizhny Novgorod to Arzamas is planned to be completed in 2027.

      Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Sergey Morozov noted that the facility is of special importance to the region. He recalled that the major repair of the most important section of the highway connecting Nizhny Novgorod with the M-12 road and onward to Arzamas — the region’s third-largest city by population — has been completed. Sergey Morozov expressed confidence that the completion of the modernization of this fragment of the R-158 federal highway will stimulate the development of the region’s tourism and logistics potential. He pointed out that, thanks to the work carried out by Rosavtodor specialists and the fact that the repairs were carried out without completely closing traffic, the region has received a modern, safe and convenient road. According to the deputy head of the region, it is symbolic that the renovated section is being opened on the eve of Transport Workers’ Day, and high-quality, safe roads are the best gift for the professional holiday.

      In less than two years, road crews converted a 23-km stretch of carriageway to four lanes. During the major repairs they completely replaced the pavement structure and laid a new wearing course of wear-resistant stone mastic asphalt using polymer-bitumen binders. This type of surfacing is used on sections with high traffic intensity — in peak periods 15 to 20 thousand vehicles pass here per day.

      Acting head of FKU Uprdor Moscow–Nizhny Novgorod Dmitry Glushkov stressed that the work was carried out with active support from the regional government and the personal involvement of Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin, as well as with maximum engagement from local authorities. He noted that the major repairs were carried out under difficult conditions — on an operating road and without stopping traffic — yet the road crews completed the tasks with quality and on schedule.

      Dmitry Glushkov also pointed out that along the entire renovated section central and side barrier guardrails have been installed. This will prevent vehicles from entering the oncoming lane and unauthorized exits from the road, reducing the risk of accidents with serious consequences. The total length of the protective structures is about 65 km.

      As part of the project, five at-grade interchanges were built for U-turns and changes of travel direction. Their main purpose is to eliminate accident hotspots and ensure convenient access to settlements located along the highway. U-turn loops were added at km 79 in the Rozhdestvensky Maydan area, at km 85 near Kriush, at km 88 and km 91 in the Volchikhinsky Maydan area, and at km 104 at the turnoff to Arzamas.

      In addition, acceleration/deceleration lanes were arranged at 11 junctions with local roads. They allow vehicles entering from secondary roads to accelerate safely and smoothly merge into the main traffic flow.

      Near settlements and garden associations, 12 bus stops with pull-in bays and sidewalks were installed. Traffic lights were mounted at the pedestrian crossings located nearby.

      All interchanges, junctions, stops and pedestrian crossings have been provided with external electric lighting, ensuring necessary visibility at night. The total length of the lighting lines exceeds 10 km. Road navigation has been simplified by new road signs and thermoplastic road markings.

      Road crews also reinforced the shoulders and installed a new drainage system. Within the water protection zones of the Muravyikha and Serezha rivers and the Vodopre stream, a closed storm sewer system with filtration for runoff was constructed to remove harmful impurities and de-icing agents from the road surface.

      At km 80 of the highway an underground wildlife crossing was built along a migratory route for wild animals. A mesh fence has been installed along the approaches to channel animals toward the safe crossing and reduce the likelihood of them entering the carriageway.

      It was previously reported that three more sections of the R-158 in the Nizhny Novgorod region would be widened (from km 176 to 195, from km 144 to 164 and from km 229 to 249). However, tenders for the development of design documentation were suspended after complaints.

      Also recall that the major repair project for the R-158 section from km 52 to 77 in the Dalnekonstantinovsky district received a positive state expert review.

      At the same time, work to widen the highway from km 40 to 52 has been suspended. The contractor left the construction site without warning and was soon faced with lawsuits totaling 289 million rubles.

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