Glavgosexpertiza Reviewed and Approved Design and Estimates Package for 1st Construction Phase of M-12 Highway (Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod – Kazan)

At the end of last year, Stroytransgaz was appointed as the contractor for the design and construction of the first complex 80km-long four-lane section of M-12 highway (Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod – Kazan) from the intersection with A-108 (Moscow Big Ring) to the intersection with M-7 Volga highway. Glavgosexpertiza of Russia reviewed the design and estimates package for the 1st construction phase of M-12 highway in Moscow and Vladimir Regions. Based on the results of the state expert review, an approval was issued.

M-12 is built under Decree No. 204 of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin dated 07.05.2018 for the purpose of building and improving Russian sections of roads on the international Europe - Western China transport route (EWC ITR). The construction of a seamless basic network of expressways is consistent with the basic principles provided in the Strategy for Spatial Development of the Russian Federation up to 2025 approved by the order of the Government of the Russian Federation. The project was commissioned by Russian Highways State Company. It is designed by GORKA Group.

This is a special project for Stroytransgaz and GORKA. As Stroytransgaz General Director Vladimir Lavlentsev said, "EWC is the first project of such length, we have never had such projects yet and it is a challenge for us. It is important that we understand that we have no chance of not completing it. We have one main task: to build on time, within budget and with proper high quality. The highway section runs through densely populated areas in Moscow and Vladimir Regions. It is necessary to consider many aspects and solutions to ensure the required level of comfort for residents of adjacent areas, traffic safety and noise protection. It will also be necessary to build two-level interchanges with local roads and 27 civil structures, including 23 bridges, three cattle passes and one underground pedestrian crossing."

More than 45 million people live in the area of the Russian section of EWC ITR and taking into account all territories in its attraction zone, this figure increases to 62 million (approximately 40% of the total population of Russia). In purchasing power parity terms, these are middle and high-income regions with a per capita gross regional product of $15,000 to $25,000, so it provides a high potential for future demand for this highway's services. Recent transportation and economic studies show that the EWC ITR route will attract 70 million tons of domestic cargo traffic from its commissioning by 2025.

The first phase of the highway provides for three production bases and 6 temporary storage yards. The construction of Annino base has been completed.

At Uvarovo base, the construction office and dormitory No. 1 have been completely built, with some employees already living in the dormitory. At the site of dormitory No. 2, the installation of slabs and a packaged building has been completed, the installation of partition walls and utilities is continuing. The construction of the sand subgrade near dormitory No. 3 has been completed, the crushed stone access road has been prepared, preparations are underway for the installation of slabs.

An asphalt concrete plant No. 1 was installed at Pokrov base, a ramp was equipped to unload concrete aggregate from railway cars, an office for employees was built and has already been put into operation. The site for dormitory No. 1 and a sand subgrade as the site of dormitory No. 2 have been prepared, modules of both dormitories are being installed.

Asphalt concrete plant No. 2 was installed near Vasilyevka village, a yard for concrete aggregate is 100% complete. Note that in 2022, it is planned to install 2 more asphalt concrete plants as part of the first construction phase of the M-12 highway. The total capacity of 4 plants will be about 600 tons of asphalt concrete mixture per hour.

The SP 32-E asphalt concrete mixture will be produced to install the surface course. It is suitable for roads with heavy traffic and designed for extreme loads. The mixture has a unique component, a binder designed for the specific climatic conditions of the region, i.e. for Moscow and Vladimir Regions.

More than 1,800 people and over 600 units of equipment are engaged at the site every day.

The new highway is included in the global Europe–West China government project initiated by China Chairman Xi Jinping and supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The project aims to restore the Silk Road that connected Europe and China for more than a thousand years. The highway will provide great opportunities for Eurasian integration, become a competitive alternative to the existing sea and rail transportation routes connecting Europe and China, and provide optimal conditions for cargo transportation in three main directions: China–Kazakhstan, China–Central Asia, China–Kazakhstan–Russia–Western Europe. The total length of the Russian part of this international corridor will be about 2,300 km.