Adler bypass tunnels to be Russia's longest

The road tunnels on the Adler bypass will become the longest in Russia, according to the press service of the Russian Ministry of Transport.

The new road, being built by Avtodor (the Russian Highways State Company), is said to significantly reduce traffic on existing roads and provide faster access to the airport and Krasnaya Polyana. The project includes a unique complex of two tunnels that will connect Adler and Kudepsta. Each direction will have two lanes, and the tunnels themselves will stretch nearly 6 km. They will be connected by 11 cross passages: eight for equipment, utilities, and communications, and three more (for transport and evacuation) that will allow traffic to be redirected between the tunnels in emergencies. This is a necessary safety requirement.

The tunnels will also be equipped with a forced storm drainage system and treatment facilities. There will be a vertical ventilation shaft 98 meters deep for fresh air intake, gas removal, and temperature control. Along the entire length of the tunnels, jet and supply fans, dust collection systems, fire extinguishing systems, and atmospheric monitoring systems will be installed. Good visibility will be provided by lights on the upper and side arches. To manage traffic flow, the tunnels will be equipped with infrared sensors, reversible traffic lights, variable message signs, and photo-video recording cameras.

Recall that the cost of building the Adler bypass has increased. Its final cost will be over 100 billion rubles (approximately $1.1 billion at current rates).

The construction of the road is divided into nine stages and was initially estimated at 73.5 billion rubles (approximately $817 million at current rates). The Deputy Prime Minister noted that despite the high complexity of the work due to mountainous terrain and soils, the road is planned to be completed in 2027.

The project includes the creation of an alternative route to relieve the federal highway A-147, which passes through densely populated areas of Adler. The key and most technologically complex element of the future road will be a tunnel over 8 kilometers long. Receiving a positive conclusion from the state expertise allows moving to the practical implementation of the project.

In November last year, Avtodor received a positive conclusion from Glavgosexpertiza (the Russian State Expertise) for the third stage of the Adler bypass construction, which will become part of the highway from the federal M-4 Don highway to Sochi.