State of the regional and local road network in the Baikal Region

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to study the condition of the Baikal region road network. Statistical data on the development level of road networks, as well as the regulatory and technical legal documents governing the road industry in Russia and in the Baikal Region, we reanalysed. Firstly, the Baikal Region, as well as the Russian Federation as a whole, lags far behind most developed countries in terms of the development of road networks. Secondly, the road network in the Baikal Region has a very low density in the northern parts and a relatively high density in the southern parts, which are more developed and populated. Thirdly, the actual condition of the roads significantly differs from the regulatory and engineering requirements. Fourthly, the final cost of the product is twice as high as in developed countries. This is due to the low level of quality and development of the road network, as well as the high transport expenses. Moreover, the low quality of the roads has a direct impact on the number of accidents. It can be concluded that an effective mechanism for the modernization of the road industry in the Baikal region has not been developed. The existing regulatory framework and the deadlines set by various development programs do not accomplish the development indicators of regional and local road networks. It is essential that approaches to road capital repair and maintenance of regional and local roads should be modified. A repair of a whole stretch of a road should replace the traditional approach of repairing individual small sections of a road and its structures. To this end, theoretical and methodological provisions and practical guidelines for developing road networks in the Baikal region should be established.