Published on: 2026-05-15
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
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Moscow Highway, Samara
In 2026, thanks to the national project “Infrastructure for Life,” about 230 sections of regional and local roads leading to shrines, cult buildings, and structures will be brought to regulatory condition, Deputy Chairman of the Government Marat Khusnullin reported.
In our multinational country, people of different faiths live. Roads to Orthodox churches, Muslim mosques, Buddhist datsans, Jewish synagogues, and other religious centers must be of equal quality and accessibility. Updating and modernizing routes to the holy places of any confession is a sign of respect for the culture and traditions of every nation of Russia. Last year, under the national project, 275 sections of regional and local roads leading to places of religious worship were updated.”This season, we plan to continue this work and bring 230 such road facilities to a normative state,” Marat Khusnullin said.
Special attention was also paid to pilgrimage routes last year – with the start of the implementation of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”.
“Last season, according to the national project, 1.3 thousand km of regional and local roads leading to sacred places were renovated. This year, we plan to bring the standard up by more than 1 thousand km. Many pilgrimage centers are located at a considerable distance from administrative centers. Meanwhile, a large number of people come here year-round. Among the pilgrims, there are elderly people, individuals with limited health capabilities, and families with children. We are obliged to ensure accessibility of sacred places for all citizens.””Therefore, we are developing a comprehensive pedestrian facility – which includes barrier fences, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and parking spaces for cars,” emphasized Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin.
It should be noted that visits to holy places are often included in the itineraries of regional excursion trips. The implementation of the national project “Infrastructure for Life” makes a significant contribution to the development of domestic tourism.
“By 2026, under the national project, we will bring 340 sections of regional and local roads, leading to tourist sites, into regulatory condition. A total of 1.6 thousand km. These are routes to unique architecture, architectural monuments, natural complexes, historical sights, and, of course, to shrines—the heart of popular faith and traditions. By opening such places for yourself, you perceive the region’s history differently, understand the multifaceted nature of culture and the wisdom of popular traditions.””By renovating roads to tourist and pilgrimage sites, we preserve the unique heritage of our ancestors to pass it on to the children,” noted the deputy head of the Federal Road Agency, Kairat Tursunbekov.
This year, nearly 50 km of roads will be brought to standard condition in the Samara region, leading to 25 objects of religious and cultural heritage – temples, churches, mosques, monasteries, and chapels. The work will take place both on the regional road network and locally – in Samara and Tolyatti. In particular, in Samara, repairs continue on Tutaevsky Street, on the section from Kievskaya to Dachnaya (0.7 km). This is the route to the All Saints Cathedral. Road workers are renewing the surface of the roadway and sidewalks. Manhole covers have already been replaced and raised to height marks.
Also, in the regional center, 1.4 km of roads along Stepana Razina Street will be brought up to standards. Here are located the Cathedral of the Ascension of the Lord and the chapel-cross of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Ascension Cathedral is the oldest surviving temple in Samara: in 1851 it received the status of a cathedral, it was closed in 1930, and returned to believers only in 1993, being restored by 1999. Most of the temple shrines were donated by parishioners, among them are icons of the Mother of God “It is Truly Meet,” “The Unfading Flower,” “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” and a silver cross from 1787.
In Tolyatti, during this road season, more than 2 km of roads leading to the shrine are being renewed. In the central district, a section of the road on Klavdiya Vavilova Street (0.5 km) is being repaired. This is the route to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, whose history began in 1955, when the altar in honor of the Kazan icon was consecrated in the relocated city. In 1985, a brick shrine was built on the site of the old prayer house, and two years later it was consecrated. By 1990, the shrine was decorated with five domes, and a baptismal hall, a Sunday school, and a charitable shelter were opened on the territory.
Thanks to the national project, routes to Muslim mosques are being updated. Thus, in Orenburg, roadworks are underway on a 300-meter section of Rybakovskaya Street. It runs next to the Central Cathedral Mosque, on the territory of which the residence of the regional muftiate is located. This mosque serves as the administrative and spiritual center for Muslims not only of the region but for the entire Orenburg region.
The road renovation on Rybakovskaya Street is being carried out in stages. Last year, a section 1.5 km long was repaired—from Tereshkova Street to Kommunarov Passage. This season, the remaining section is being renovated—a 0.3 km stretch from Tereshkova Street to Pobedy Avenue.
In significant places of worship, routes are being renewed, including in the Republic of Buryatia. By 2026, road workers will bring to regulatory condition the section of the regional highway Ulan-Ude – Turuntaevo – Kurumkan – Novy Uoyan with a length of 7.6 km. Previously, it was gravel, and after repair, it will receive a solid asphalt pavement.
The route stretches along the southeastern shore of Baikal, offering travelers views of unique mountain landscapes. This is the path to the Barguzin Datsan – Tsogchen Dugan, built on the site where the image of the goddess Yanzhima appeared. Every year, thousands of pilgrims rush here.
Repair work on the section began last year. At that time, the road workers brought the first 3 km up to standard. This year, they will repair another 4.6 km.
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