Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Krasnodar Territory Governor Veniamin Kondratiev, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Emergencies and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to divert traffic to Crimea through the new regions of the Russian Federation. Reported by TASS.
“I have a request to work in harmony with all services: with the regional services, with the federal services, with the transport department, with the Ministry of Emergencies, with the Ministry of the Interior. “Everything that can be done for the citizens must be done,” said Putin.
Kondratyev replied that it would be “a source of pride” for the Russians to travel to the Crimea through the territory annexed in the autumn.
It will not be a source of pride for us not to comply with the security measures for our citizens going on holiday.
Putin also stressed that citizens should be helped to “transfer the time they spent entering” Crimea if major traffic jams persist. He also told Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev that his office can always appeal to the head of state on this matter.
Saveliev also said The Ministry of Transport expects a peak load on the Crimean bridge on 16-17 July. He also noted that if necessary, two landing craft will be used to transport vehicles.
“The tourist flow here will increase, then decrease. That’s why we’ll see if it’s necessary, two more landing craft we’re working with now will come into play, we made such a decision,” he said.
He added that the heaviest traffic jams usually occur on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Saveliev added: Opening traffic on the Chongarsky bridge from the Kherson region to the Crimea should reduce the load To the Crimean bridge.
“This allows drivers to take an alternative route, bypassing the Crimean bridge. “Our statistics show that more than 1,200 cars crossed the Crimean bridge yesterday and passed through new areas,” he said.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Transport of Crimea reported that the length of the traffic jam on the bridge from the Krasnodar Territory on Tuesday morning is 4 km, and it takes about 2 hours to enter the passage. From the Crimean side the queue was 100 meters, the wait took about 10 minutes.
According to Savelyev, a one-time sharp increase in traffic to the Crimea since July 1 has increased by 40%.
On Saturday, July 1, a traffic jam formed on the Kuban side. In the evening of the same day, he had reached 9 km. In order to eliminate the queue, the work of the inspection lines was strengthened and additional traffic police were engaged. The Ministry of Transport also explained that the occurrence of traffic congestion is associated with an increase in the number of vehicles and luggage subject to inspection.
During a meeting with members of the government, Transport Minister Savelyev informed Putin that an additional ferry was planned to be launched across the Kerch pass on July 7.
“The Kerch 2 car-passenger ferry starts operating around the clock. The ferry will make 5 round trips per day and will allow up to 200 vehicles to be transported in both directions.
On the eve of drivers caught in a traffic jam near the Crimean bridge, told NEWS.ru about congestion experiences. Inna from Moscow said she went on vacation with her children and “knows what she’s getting into”.
“We knew what we were getting into, there was nowhere to go, hotel reservations were non-refundable. We refueled before the traffic jam, bought food, water, stocked up on patience. The temperature is 30 degrees. It saves the air conditioner. There are toilets that distribute water throughout the traffic jam. The police are helping in every possible way by solving problems with “obstacles” that brazenly overtake other cars and go to the inspection point without waiting in line, ”the police said.
Some drivers reported that water was not distributed in traffic jams, but other drivers said volunteers offered drinking water.