Residents Pay Rising Tolls for Vital River Crossing in Arkhangelsk

Residents of Plesetsky District are unhappy with the cost of the pontoon bridge crossing over the Onega River in the village of Afanasovskaya. Traveling from bank to bank is vitally necessary for them: to visit relatives, go to stores, or the nearest hospital in the settlement of Konevo. Tourists also travel this route — it is via this pontoon that one can reach the Kenozersky National Park. But the price for passage is regularly increased — the latest hike came at the end of 2025.

«Mostly Elderly People Travel»

One resident of the Pomorye hinterland told 29.RU that more than 25 villages are located beyond the crossing, home to many elderly people. According to her, previously there were discounts for veterans at the crossing, but now they have been canceled.

— Every year prices for the crossing grow, — she says. — We seem to have gotten used to it, but recently they doubled the prices for passenger cars, which are predominantly used by elderly people. That is, for them to drive to the nearest hospital in Konevo, they need to pay 800 rubles (about $9 at current rates) for a round trip. Naturally, prices for buses and taxis will also rise, the fares for which are already not cheap, since people have no other ways to get across.

Residents believe that prices are being raised unjustifiably, considering the condition of the road, which is regularly flooded.

— This crossing is famous for its spring floods, — explains the northern woman. — Every year the same thing — the road gets flooded in the same spots, it«s simply impassable. People become literally cut off from civilization. But even knowing about these weak points, the road isn»t fixed — not filled in, not raised. Not all cars can drive over the crossing itself, the descent is not always in good condition.

Other residents of Plesetsky District, whom 29.RU managed to speak with, agree that the issue of paying for the crossing is a big problem for them. Some take it more calmly, others more critically. And ideally, everyone dreams of a good bridge that would connect the two banks of the Onega.

— Personally, my opinion: at least such a crossing exists, — shared a local resident anonymously. — We won«t see money for building a bridge, as they»ve been writing excuses for years. We can«t jump higher than our heads. Yesterday we drove to Plesetsk: for our »Lada« we paid 300 rubles (about $3 at current rates) one way. I think once a month — it»s not critical.

— I think for now it can«t be solved, as building a bridge would cost 2 billion rubles (about $22 million at current rates) — that»s according to my estimates, — ponders another northern woman. — What proposals could there be? I don«t even see a way out. For decades they collected signatures, called all authorities, but nothing changes. It»s good that at least there is such a crossing. And regarding discounts, people are divided — not everyone managed to get «veteran» status.

How Prices Have Changed

Residents of the villages showed how prices for passage on the pontoon have changed in recent years. Thus, in 2020, passenger cars depending on the model could cross for 120-350 rubles (about $1-$4 at current rates).

In 2024, prices for the same cars rose to 170-550 rubles (about $2-$6 at current rates).

In 2025, prices were raised to 200-600 rubles (about $2-$7 at current rates). And in the new year, 2026, villagers already travel for 300-800 rubles (about $3-$9 at current rates).

For the passage of a «bukhankа» (a type of van) today one needs to pay 800 rubles (about $9 at current rates). A bus — 900 rubles (about $10 at current rates). A tractor — from 1200 rubles (about $13 at current rates). And the passage of a loaded timber truck can cost 3600 rubles (about $40 at current rates).

The Owner Sets the Cost

The government of Arkhangelsk Region informed 29.RU that the crossing over the river is private property and belongs to LLC Nord-Les. In their response, they specify that in accordance with legislation, the cost of vehicle passage is set by the owner — based on actual costs incurred for the functioning of this object.

According to the authorities, the crossing is in satisfactory condition and is repaired as needed by the owner«s efforts. Safety here is monitored by local employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM).

By the way, for some vehicles the pontoon is still free, but this concerns representatives of state services and officials.

«To date all emergency rescue services, law enforcement agencies, medical vehicles, government representatives, as well as buses of the Municipal Unitary Enterprise »ATP Plesetskoye« by agreement of the district administration with the owner of the object pass for free. The cost of public transport fare does not depend on the cost of using the crossing, since buses serving the trans-river territory pass for free,» comment the regional authorities.

«Not Even Enough Money for Current Repairs»

LLC Nord-Les, which maintains the pontoon, has been registered in the village of Konevo since 2001. The company«s main activity is the operation of roads and highways. The general director is Vasily Popov, and the founder is Fyodor Fokin — a local entrepreneur. He named the reason for the increase in the river crossing fee to 29.RU: according to him, it»s all due to rising prices for fuel, electricity, spare parts, and other expenses.

— Over 14 years the price has increased by 300 rubles (about $3 at current rates). Over 14 years! — he repeats. — And 400 rubles [which passenger car drivers pay now] — that«s not the limit yet. It will be 450. For maintaining the crossing, electricity, fuel, accompanying materials, workers, machinery, lubricants are needed. Not even enough money for current repairs. One new pontoon costs 2.7 million rubles (about $30,000 at current rates) today, and we have 26-28 such pontoons. The crossing cannot operate without costs. Suppose tomorrow it»s not Fokin, not Nord-Les, but someone else here, but that doesn«t mean the passage will become cheaper.

Fyodor Fokin also confirmed that about 8 years ago, there were discounts for labor veterans and veterans of the Great Patriotic War at the crossing. According to him, they were introduced on the personal proposal of a regional deputy. Then the burden for the company was about 400-600 thousand rubles (about $4,400-$6,600 at current rates) per year. But now it«s a completely different time for the economy, and no similar work is being done by local deputies.

— Our district deputies simply don«t work — they just don»t do any work, — shares the entrepreneur. — How long has the current convocation been sitting, during this time not even the chairman of the district assembly has come to me. And this is a problem for the population. He would come here, ask about the problems, look at the crossing, maybe discuss how to improve the situation. But no one is there!

According to Fyodor Fokin, maintaining the crossing costs approximately 10-12 million rubles (about $110,000-$133,000 at current rates). And they manage to earn less. At the same time, the entrepreneur receives no subsidization from the authorities.

— I might earn 1-1.5 million rubles (about $11,000-$16,500 at current rates) on it, but that«s not earnings. It»s not serious. I«m even ready to lease the crossing, or there»s an option to buy it out. No one is interested. Since 2023 I«ve been having conversations with everyone — with the district administration, the regional administration, the Ministry of Transport. No one gives any objective answers. The last time, in December, they told us: »We can«t help you with anything. Raise prices.»

More About Crossings

In early January, automobile crossings to Brevennik, to Kegostrov were opened in Arkhangelsk, and then another one, between the 26th and 24th timber mills.

On January 2, an Arkhangelsk woman, riding a snowmobile on the Northern Dvina, died crashing into the structure of the crossing to Kego. We looked into whether this crossing should have been illuminated before official opening. An auto lawyer also discussed whether such structures need to be illuminated.

At the beginning of the month, an ice crossing in Mezensky District could not bear the weight of a truck-fuel tanker with a semi-trailer — the vehicle partially went under the ice. By the way, in December 2025 in the Kimzha area, another fuel tanker sank — then it was driving on a pedestrian ice crossing and went under the ice completely.