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16 Feb, 2010 07:58

Russia to get western quality roads

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov has told RT that Russia will get - quote “Western quality” roads starting this year, but drivers will have to PAY to use them.

Ivanov claimed no government in the world is spending as much to modernize its economy, and denied that money is being wasted.

“One of Russia’s weaknesses is the quality of its roads. Starting with the new Moscow to St. Petersburg motorway this year, a new technology to bind cement will create roads no worse than in Europe or the US. But this will be toll roads only, because the government doesn’t have the money to pay for tens of thousands of kilometres in new construction.

It currently takes longer to drive from the capital to Sheremetyevo Airport than fly to Lisbon. The new Moscow to St. Petersburg route will unblock the Moscow ring road and fully solve the Sheremetyevo transport crisis.

$10 billion is being spent through the Russian Nanotech Corporation on specific science projects that will come to market. That’s more than any other country in the world.

I don’t agree our spending in the crisis has been ineffective. We’re subsidising loans for all kinds of industry. If our banking system had collapsed, there wouldn’t be anything to subsidise.”

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