MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) – Plans are in place to repair more than 4,000 kilometers of roads in Belarus in 2024, Belarusian Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Lyakhovich said in an interview to ONT TV Channel, BelTA has learned.

“We had a very difficult time coming out of winter, which has left the roads pitted with potholes. The primary task was to eliminate these holes, to make current repairs on the most difficult sections, without impacting planned maintenance. We are dealing with this. This year, Br1.4 billion has been allocated for the reconstruction and repair of the entire road network, both national and local roads. We plan to upgrade about 3,000km of roads, so that the road network could serve for another 7-8 years. Almost Br2.2 billion is envisaged for the modernization of roads next year. The plans are to make more than 4,000 kilometers of roads,” Aleksei Lyakhnovich said.

The vector of works in Belarus has shifted, the minister said. “We used to travel to Europe more often, but now there is a need for a new corridor to St. Petersburg. We are talking about the highway R46 Lepel - Polotsk - the border of the Russian Federation. This year we started the reconstruction of the road from Polotsk to Lepel. A major overhaul of the road from Polotsk to the border of the Russian Federation is underway and is to be completed in 2024,” the minister added.

In his words, infrastructure projects continue despite the fact that the West stopped its funding. “Nothing has changed for us. Now it is not the money of international organizations, but our budgetary funds. For example, we had a project with the EBRD on 13 bridges, but with the withdrawal of this European bank we did not curtail them. We continued their reconstruction. We have already commissioned four bridges. We plan to commission five more this year and another four next year,” Aleksei Lyakhovich said.

BelTA – News from Belarus