You're reading: Azarov: Ukraine should considerably increase pace of road construction and repair

Ukraine should increase the pace of construction and repair of roads, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said, answering the questions of citizens in the Facebook social network.

He said that Ukraine has 170,000 kilometers of roads, including
almost 9,000 kilometers of international roads, over 10,000 kilometers
of regional roads, some 52,000 kilometers of national roads with 2,731
kilometers of first category roads.

“The cost of construction of one kilometer of road in Ukraine amounts
to some UAH 40 million, and it depends on the natural obstacles being
overcome – this means the necessity to build bridges, etc – in this case
it grows considerably,” he said.

The premier said that the cost of similar construction in Poland is
almost twice as much as in Ukraine and in Germany it is 2.5 times more:
in Germany one kilometer of first category road with four lanes costs
around UAH 100 million.

“What funds has our country got when we speak about the construction
of roads? Around UAH 20 billion is allocated per year. It’s easy to
calculate that UAH 20 billion is enough to build 500 kilometers. I
should say that the sum is allocated not only to road construction, but
also to their repair,” Azarov said, adding that the cost of repair could
vary from UAH 13 million to 22 million.

He said that it is obvious that with such amount of financing it hard
to expect that the situation will quickly and radically change.

“We need very large investment in road construction, although obvious
process has been seen over the past years. While in 2008, 329
kilometers of roads were built and repaired, in 2009 it was 92
kilometers, in 2010 – almost 1,000 kilometers, in 2011 – 2,007
kilometers and in 2012 – 1,600 kilometers. We see that over the past
three years a large dash has been made. However, we should increase the
pace of road construction and repair more,” Azarov said.

Commenting on the road situation this winter, the premier said that
at the end of 2012, Ukravtodor had large financial difficulties, which
also explains the level of the total amount of roads commissioned in
2012 compared to 2011.

“Plus the hardest winter in the last 10 years from the point of view
of switches from cold to warm weather and from the point of view of the
amount of snow and rain. Our roads failed to cope with such temperature
drops. Plus the increased burden on the roads by heavy haulers. Of
course, my words will not comfort drivers, but they should understand
the situation,” the premier said.

He also said that today measures to launch asphalt plants and supply
of bitumen, stones and other bulk materials are being made. Machinery is
being prepared and road organizations are receiving funds.

“Ukravtodor faces the task of fixing potholes on main roads within
one month and preparing for the fact that when the warm days come, the
overhaul and construction of roads is to start. The task of beating the
2011 level has been set,” Azarov said.

He said that a similar task had been set for the heads of the local
authorities, as most roads – over 120,000 kilometers – are under the
management of the local authorities.

“All of the reserves will be found and are being found to improve the
situation on our roads in the shortest period of time,” the premier
said.