The M-12 Vostok Highway: Moscow to Kazan on a Cost-Effective Build
The construction cost for the M-12 Vostok highway linking Moscow to Kazan was reported to be under 900 billion rubles. This figure was provided by Vyacheslav Petushenko, the head of Avtodor, in statements cited by TASS.
“810 kilometers priced at just over a billion rubles per kilometer is the calculation here,” Petushenko explained. The assurance underscores the efficiency of the project’s budgeting for a major corridor in Russia’s transport network.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of the M-12 Eastern highway segment, signaling its extension toward Kazan. This event marked a milestone in a broader initiative to connect Moscow directly with Kazan and beyond as part of a larger international route known as Russia. The current plan envisions continuing the corridor from Kazan to Yekaterinburg and then to Tyumen, extending the route to nearly 1980 kilometers in total length.
From Moscow to Kazan, the M-12 segment spans 810 kilometers. The project’s surface was completed seven months ahead of schedule, a testament to the efficiency of construction and project management. With the new road in place, driving times between Moscow and Kazan are projected to drop significantly, from about 12 hours to roughly 6.5 hours, enhancing regional connectivity and economic activity along the corridor.
There have been projections regarding traffic volumes on Moscow roads as well. In 2023, authorities anticipated a slight decrease in the number of vehicles on city streets, with a forecast reduction around 4 percent. Such trends are often linked to broader infrastructure improvements that influence travel patterns and urban congestion in the capital region. This context helps explain the strategic importance of expanding high-quality highway capacity across the national network, including the M-12 route, to support mobility and logistics for both commercial and passenger traffic. (Source: TASS reports and official statements by Avtodor.)