Two years and done!
This marks the first toll road to be built in a single phase, stretching across 800 kilometers. The other sections around it have been completed in separate stages and are not yet fully finished. The Moscow to Kazan corridor is expected to shift away from this fragmented approach.
There is a plan to accelerate the timeline dramatically, with the opening anticipated in 2024, signaling a bold push for rapid development.
We depart from Moscow
Initially the plan aimed to begin the route from the Central Ring Road, yet for travelers through the Moscow region the M 12 could feel less useful due to severe congestion on the stretch between the Moscow ring road and the central ring road, including Balashikha and Noginsk. This prompted a reevaluation of the project, yielding improvements that focus on practicality and efficiency.
And that shift matters. Most importantly, the pricing is not excessive. For instance, a trip of 43 kilometers from Moscow to Solnechnogorsk on the main M 11 route can cost from 650 to 820 rubles, a rate many would call unfairly high.
The first segment to be commissioned is a 13 kilometer section in the Moscow region, already featuring a rough asphalt surface. The remaining parts of the M 12 still show preliminary progress, similar to what is visible in the accompanying photo.
Let’s be realistic: such a highly anticipated stretch will not come cheap. Even today it would be naïve to expect anything less than 500 rubles, and in 2024 prices are expected to climb higher.
Strange route
The M 12 runs parallel to the Gorky highway, also known as the M 7, toward Vladimir. The new alignment continues south toward Murom, Arzamas, and Kanash. To reach the major cities of Nizhny Novgorod and Cheboksary from this corridor requires about an hour and a half, which can feel uncomfortable. Yet the decision carries two practical justifications.
The route forms a central ring of sorts, and the plan is for the M 12 to share similarities with it. In the Moscow region, three lanes are being constructed in each direction, with two lanes carrying on further along the route.
- The initial aim was to create the M 12 as a possible alternative to the M 5 Ural highway. It won’t replace it, but it promises to ease travel to certain areas of the Ryazan region or Mordovia.
- Secondly, many parcels needed for the new road will require purchase. Some plots are difficult to acquire, others are prohibitively expensive, and some are simply unattainable. The project thus follows a path of least resistance.
An interesting note involves a machine near Vladimir that presses poles into the ground, not by lifting them but by using weight to drive them down when shifting earth is not feasible. This approach reduces the impact on the terrain in specific situations.
- Third, the highway is expected to stimulate development along its corridor. Estimates suggest around 5,000 people will benefit from the new traffic flow, and the M 7 Volga route will maintain the existing infrastructure and job opportunities in the area.
Can you go already?
The construction spans hundreds of kilometers, with technological road components already laid along much of the proposed path. It is feasible to drive portions of the future route today, though not always in a straight line due to rivers, railways, and linked crossings. In general, much of the corridor has already been prepared.
A virtual tour is even possible. Almost the entire future M 12 is mapped on Yandex Maps, complete with nodes.
After Kazan the M 12 is planned to extend toward Yekaterinburg. In theory this would occur by 2024, though skepticism remains. The easier expansion follows reconstructed existing roads in parts of the route.
Interesting numbers
About 80,000 people are involved in the construction. The project plans to install more than 60 wildlife crossings to protect animals along the route. Of nearly 300 bridges and viaducts, two stand out: the cable-stayed crossing over the Oka near Murom and the Volga crossing at Kazan, each spanning more than 3 kilometers with navigable segments exceeding 150 meters.
The sand cushion beneath the road ranges from 2 to 2.5 meters on flat ground and scales up to 10 meters for artificial structures. Traditional construction timelines call for the sand layer to rest for almost a year before advancing, whereas modern methods allow progress within weeks.
The new cable-stayed bridge over the Oka will sit near an existing structure of similar design.
Three asphalt layers are laid, with the top layer engineered for high-speed and high-traffic conditions.
Build a job, plant a tree
Avtodor and its contractors are committed to planting three new trees to replace those felled, with the exact planting sites determined by responsible authorities. The planting need not be immediately adjacent to the runway, but total reforestation must be accounted for.
The largest construction site is near Kazan, where the major bridge over the Volga is being built.
Fragile local roads that suffer from heavy truck traffic will not receive quick repair on an accelerated timetable. Residents should expect scheduled maintenance instead.
And where to refuel?
The goal is to cover 800 kilometers in one go, so reliable fueling options are essential. The M 4 Don corridor was developed using the old road’s infrastructure, while the M 11 route includes detours from Tver along the historic M 10 Russia road to ensure fuel stops. The Central Ring Road is not overly long, and it is possible to skip refueling there, instead stopping at radial roads before or after the exit, or using sections of the Leningradskoe to Kievskoe highway already in service. For the M 12, multiple multifunctional complexes are planned at 50 to 80 kilometer intervals, with charging stations for electric vehicles planned as well.
The largest construction site remains near Kazan with the Volga crossing under development. Gas stations are expected to operate reliably; if not, emergency logistics may rely on fuel trucks rather than standard service fleets.
How much is it?
The initial price tag stood at 623 billion rubles. A late year revision added 200 billion, influenced by metal costs and wage pressures. With currency fluctuations continuing to influence costs, the final figure remains uncertain.
Sanctions and procurement challenges necessitate new suppliers and revised logistics, which add further costs. The rate policy has yet to be finalized, though there is discussion of a proposal from the Ministry that would charge 8 rubles per kilometer for under-construction sections. If implemented, a Moscow to Kazan trip could cost around 6,400 rubles, with the duration of the journey a factor. This remains a proposal and the final price is to be determined.
- Behind the wheel can also be read on VKontakte.