The key facts

  • Ivanovo Region retains leadership: 94.2% of core network roads meet the standards
  • Udmurtia (90.5%) and Bryansk Region (90.4%) entered the top three for the first time
  • Across Russia, 75.6% of roads meet the standard; 85% is planned by 2030

New regions in the top three

Udmurtia and Bryansk Region entered the top three Russian regions with the highest share of core road network meeting regulatory standards for the first time this autumn. RIA Novosti reported this, citing statistical data; the updated ranking was covered by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru.

Distribution of places

Ivanovo Region remains the leader of the ranking, where 94.2% of core network roads meet the standards. Udmurtia took second place with 90.5%, and Bryansk Region came third (90.4%). The top five also included Mari El (90.2%) and Sevastopol (90%). They were followed by Murmansk (89.8%), Kursk (89.5%), Rostov (89%), Saratov (88.7%) and Kaliningrad (87.8%) regions.

Moscow and St. Petersburg outside the top ten

Moscow and St. Petersburg did not make the top ten: in the capital, 85% of core network roads meet the standards, and in St. Petersburg — 85.2%. Across Russia as a whole, the share of core network roads in proper condition is 75.6%. According to the goals of the national project 'Infrastructure for Life', by 2030 this figure should reach 85% — that is, at the national level the plan is to approach the current figures of the two capitals.

Context of the road debate

The publications about the ranking come amid an ongoing debate about the state of the road network. Earlier, Jan Hazeur, vice-president of the 'National Automobile Union', statedthat abandoning free public roads in Russia would lead both to higher vehicle operating costs and to price increases for most goods. In addition, the State Duma asked the government to build roads 'from village to village'.