Russia Putin opens new highway from Moscow to St. Petersburg

After a long construction period, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's most important projects has been completed: a new 670-kilometre highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

At the wheel of a domestic Lada Aura car, the Kremlin leader inaugurated the last missing section, the bypass around the provincial town of Tver. This section includes a 738-metre-long bridge over the upper reaches of the Volga.

The plans to relieve the old route between Russia's most important cities go back a long way. The route passed through many villages and was only partially developed as a highway. Putin ordered the new construction in 2004, and construction of the first section began in 2010.

Eight euros only as far as the airport

Drivers have to pay a toll almost everywhere on the new M-11 route. The most expensive is the first section from Moscow to Sheremetyevo Airport and beyond, which costs 795 roubles (just under 8 euros) on weekdays. Depending on the day and fare, the entire route can cost more than 3,000 roubles.

From Tver, the Kremlin leader also opened a second important new route, as reported by the Tass agency: the highway bypass of the city of Togliatti with a 3.7-kilometre bridge over the Volga on its lower reaches.