Previously, the M-4 Don highway saw regular summer traffic jams. This year, however, a noticeable shift occurred. The combination of airport closures and reduced international flight options nudged more travelers toward driving to the southern regions of Russia, increasing demand by approximately 30 percent. As a result, road congestion rose alongside the number of cars on the route. The surge in travelers extended travel timelines and altered the typical flow of traffic, leaving many drivers facing longer journeys rather than shorter ones. This shift was discussed by the National Union of Horeca, through its chairman Alexei Volkov, who relayed figures showing that the same route now carries more vehicles for the same stretch of time, intensifying the normal strain on the highway ecosystem.
With more people taking to the road, average travel time to coastal cities has expanded. What used to be a 5 to 18 hour window for a typical trip has stretched into an entire day for many travelers. The assessment came from indicators observed by authorities and reported by RIA News, underscoring how the combination of higher demand and existing bottlenecks has reshaped the typical coastline access pattern this season. The practical impact is clear: more time on the road, greater exposure to fatigue, and a heightened need for reliable planning for weekend trips and longer vacations alike.
Road repairs compound the challenge for holidaymakers. Construction work, combined with other limitations on the corridor, reduces the effective capacity of the route. The most pronounced congestion has been noted in the Voronezh and Rostov regions, as well as in areas including Goryachiy Klyuch, Krasnodar, and Novorossiysk. These hotspots illustrate how even targeted maintenance can ripple outward, slowing traffic in nearby segments and extending detours. For travelers, this means revisiting departure times, selecting alternate routes when possible, and factoring in extra travel time to maintain reliable arrival plans.
Experts propose several measures to alleviate the pressure. One practical strategy is to synchronize road works with low-traffic periods, such as nighttime hours, to minimize interference for daytime commuters and long-distance travelers. Adjusting the timetable for repairs could help preserve smoother traffic flow and reduce stops along the most congested stretches. Beyond scheduling, there is a call to strengthen the southern corridor through investment in road infrastructure. The idea is to attract investors to fund high-quality amenities—rest stops, food options, and recreational facilities—that improve the overall travel experience for those heading to the southern coast. Such improvements would not only ease current congestion but also elevate the standard of service for travelers and support local economies along the route.
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