Komi launches sweeping road safety upgrades to protect drivers and pedestrians
The Republic of Komi is rolling out a major road safety and infrastructure upgrade across its regional and urban networks. Over the next three years, authorities will expand street lighting, build new sidewalks, and enhance pedestrian crossings. The push follows recent improvements, including refreshed road markings, new traffic signs, and guardrail installations.
In 2025 alone, crews refreshed road markings across 2,958 kilometers of regional highways. They also installed 5,700 traffic signs, placed 2,073 linear meters of guardrails, and replaced seven bus stop complexes. To reduce accidents on dangerous stretches, delineators and high-friction road markings were added to high-risk sections.
Pedestrian safety has taken centre stage, with 397 LED crosswalk projectors fitted at 207 crossings in the capital, Syktyvkar, and 64 more in Ukhta. Further installations are scheduled for 2026 and 2027–2028. Nighttime visibility improved as well, thanks to 42 kilometers of new street lighting along regional roads, plus nearly 13 kilometers added by municipalities and another 9 kilometers modernised.
Looking ahead, between 2026 and 2028, the region will add 54.2 kilometers of street lighting and construct 44 kilometers of sidewalks. The upgrades aim to bring roads up to regulatory standards, covering regional, intermunicipal, and local networks. Rostislav Goldstein, head of the Republic of Komi, is directly overseeing the implementation of these national projects.
The region's efforts follow earlier large-scale works, such as the modernisation of the R-30 Kola Highway section between Syktyvkar and Ukhta, completed between 2020 and 2024 at a cost of around 15 billion roubles. Another key project, the expansion of the Syktyvkar–Pečora regional road, remains in planning until 2027, funded through the national Safe and High-Quality Roads programme.
The upgrades will create safer conditions for drivers and pedestrians alike. Better lighting, clearer markings, and improved crossings are designed to cut accident risks. While smaller in scale compared to projects in regions like Krasnodar or Siberia, these measures address Komi's specific needs as a remote area with limited funding.
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