A new stage of construction of the Latitudinal Highway has started in St. Petersburg

The second stage of construction of the Latitudinal High-speed Highway (LMS) has started in St. Petersburg. In honor of this, a symbolic pile and a commemorative plaque were installed at the Vitebsk interchange. Governor Alexander Beglov stressed that the start of construction of new stages of the CMMSD is an important event for the entire North-West of Russia.

According to Roman Starovoit, Minister of Transport, who took part in the event, the launch of new stages of the project is a landmark event for St. Petersburg. "The project is very capital intensive, therefore, on behalf of the President of our country, the government of the Russian Federation is helping financially. 90 billion rubles are provided in the country's budget for its implementation. It is very important that the project is conducted on the principles of public-private partnership," the minister said.

Governor of St. Petersburg‑Alexander Beglov of St. Petersburg noted that the construction of the SCHMSD is one of the most striking examples of successful PPP. He also recalled that the first stage of the highway construction started in March 2021. The opening of the section from the Western High-speed Diameter to the Vitebsk interchange took place last year.

The total length of the main course of the 2nd-4th stages will be 14.1 km. The highway will have six lanes with an estimated speed of up to 120 km/h. The route will pass through Moskovsky, Frunzensky, Nevsky and Krasnogvardeysky districts, from Vitebsk Avenue to the Ring Road. The commissioning of the new stages of the SMSD is scheduled for 2029-2031.

Beglov stressed that the highway "will relieve the city center of transit traffic, provide a direct link between the eastern districts and the south of the city, and give an impetus to new construction and economic development in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region."

The highway is included in the General Plan of St. Petersburg. Another drawbridge across the Neva River will be built as part of the project. Subsequently, the highway will become part of a transport corridor to Karelia, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.