Border issue

Negotiations between the Transport Ministries of the Russian Federation and Finland have been held this week in Helsinki. The main issue still related to liquidation of queues at vehicle check points at Russia-Finland border and construction of parking grounds. Meanwhile, cargo flow entering Russia via Finnish ports continues to grow thus increasing the volume of road transportation. This year it is to grow by 20%, which is to make the problem even more urgent.

According to the North-West interregional administration of the Federal Agency for Transport Supervision, the volume of Russia’s foreign trade cargo transported by motor transport (both import and export) via Russia-Finland border in 2007 grew by 4.2% to 8.5 million tonnes. According to Evgeni Moskvichev, deputy Transportation Minister, who headed the Russian delegation, the growth is some 20% today. First of all, import is growing while export is going down due to a decrease of timber export.

Considering the growth of cargo transportation, many check points work at the brink of their capacity being unable to meet the challenge of the growing flow of automobiles. The queues have become a norm reaching tens of kilometers on peak days. As of today there are 15 check points at Russia-Finland border but the major flow is handled at Torfyanovka, Brusnichnoye and Svetogorsk. Last year, 457,100 automobiles crossed the border via Torfyanovka (+5%, year-on-year). They carried 3.3 million tonnes of cargo. The number of automobiles at Brusnichnoye grew by 26% to 304,500 units carrying 2.4 million tonnes of cargo. Svetogorsk demonstrated the highest dynamics - 51% to 183,600 automobiles carrying 1.5 million tonnes of cargo.

Automobiles coming to Finnish ports account for a considerable share of Russian import. In 2007, Russia imported over 1 mln automobiles via the ports of Finland. Throughout the year the border was crossed by 117,000 car carriers, a 1.3-fold increase against 2006. From May 29, import of new automobiles via Russia-Finland border is allowed only via Brusnichnoye and Svetogorsk with the latter accounting for the core volume. However it requires reconstruction of Vyborg - Svetogorsk highway and providing it with a status of a federal road.

The situation at Brusnichnoye check point is complicated with a terrain. The capacity is limited by a narrow traffic way.  Approaches to Torfyanovka also require widening. Besides, the check point itself is to be upgraded as well.

According to the agreement, a work group including representatives of the both countries’ Ministries of Transport, road, customs and border authorities was created to coordinate development of check points.

Border infrastructure facilities are being actively developed in Finland, at Vaalimaa check point. A parking ground for 1,000 trucks is to be built there. The queues are quite a serious load for the infrastructure of Finland, so there were frequent proposals to introduce payment for parking thought it is still free of charge.  

The Russian side told the participants of the meeting that the project aimed at reconstruction of approaches to Torfyanovka subjects to Glavgosexpertise of Russia. The work is to start in August 2008. In 2008, Scandinavia141 kilometers with the Druzhba bridge reconstruction, which is to be completed in 2009. Apart from this, Scandinavia highway is to be reconstructed at the section between 47 and 131 kilometers within the framework of the federal special target program “Development of Russia’s Transport System till 2015”. highway is to be overhauled at the section between 128 and