Skip to main content

Key Russian road construction complete

Construction work on the Central Section of Russia’s Western High-Speed Diameter (WHSD) in St Petersburg is complete, with some small detail work now being finished off. The WHSD connects the Southern, Central and Northern sections of St Petersburg and will open to traffic at the end of December. VTB Capital was a key participant in funding the construction of the Central Section and is a major shareholder in the consortium that will operate the entire WHSD route.
December 5, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
Construction work on the Central Section of Russia’s Western High-Speed Diameter (WHSD) in St Petersburg is complete, with some small detail work now being finished off. The WHSD connects the Southern, Central and Northern sections of St Petersburg and will open to traffic at the end of December. VTB Capital was a key participant in funding the construction of the Central Section and is a major shareholder in the consortium that will operate the entire WHSD route.

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russian Federation, took part in the opening ceremony. It was also attended by president and chairman of the management board of VTB Bank Andrey Kostin; plenipotentiary envoy to the Northwestern Federal District Nikolay Tsukanov; the governor of Saint Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko; deputy minister of Transport of Russia Nikolai Asaul, and head of the Russian Federal Road Transport Agency Roman Starovoit.

The construction of the Central Part of the WHSD and the operation of the highway falls under the Northern Capital Highway private-public partnership. Northern Capital Highway is a consortium consisting of VTB Capital as the majority shareholder, alongside OJSC Gazprombank and others. Investment into the project totalled more than RUB 120 billion.

The WHSD will cut congestion and journey times for drivers in the city. It will relieve the existing highways of the city by managing the traffic through diversion of freight transportation from the seaport of St Petersburg directly to federal highways. It creates an easy two-way access between Pulkovo airport and the business centre of the city.

Andrey Kostin, president and chairman of the Management Board of VTB Group said, “The WHSD is one of the largest and most technologically advanced PPP toll-road projects in Russia and the world. The highway will achieve major infrastructure goals for St Petersburg and will be a key part of the federal transport system.”

“The Western High-Speed Diameter” is the first inter-city toll highway in Russia. The highway is 46km long and consists of three parts connecting the Northern, Central and Southern parts of St Petersburg. The opening of the Central Part of WHSD spanning over 12km will make an entire highway operational.

Northern Capital Highway, an infrastructure consortium including VTB Capital and OJSC Gazprombank is implementing a private-public partnership with the city of Saint-Petersburg. According to the agreement, the company is exercising the functions of financing and construction of the Central Part of the Western High-Speed Diameter. A signed loan agreement with a syndicate of banks including VTB Capital, Gazprombank, the State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Northern Capital Highway has received the operating rights for the entire WHSD.

Related Content

  • Columbia kick-starts Antioquia project with Toyo tunnel financing
    January 6, 2015
    Columbia’s National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) will help finance construction of the Toyo tunnel in Antioquia. The tunnel, nearly 10km-long and costing almost US$760, will be part of a new 39km road between Santa Fe de Antioquia and Canasgordas. The central government will contribute $216 million towards the project, the regional government of Antioquia will contribute $337 million and the Medellin government will pitch in with $212 million.
  • Cengiz wins Corridor VC contract in Bosnia
    March 21, 2023
    Cengiz submitted the lowest bid in the tender which attracted three offers in the deal said to be worth around €361.8 million, according to Bosnia’s state highways agency Autoceste.
  • Indonesia’s Dardak named IRF Professional of the Year by IRF Washington
    October 1, 2014
    Indonesia’s vice-minister of Public Works is engineer Hermanto Dardak and he has been awarded the International Road Federation’s highest and most prestigious individual distinction. Established in 1951, the Professional of the Year Award recognises eminent public, private and education sector professionals with an outstanding track record of leadership and commitment to the road transport industry.
  • FIDIC signs key agreements for China and Africa
    January 30, 2020
    FIDIC has signed two important agreements for key international markets.