Ryazan Transport Ministry Explains M-5 Highway Traffic Collapse

The Ministry of Transport and Highways of Ryazan Oblast explained the difficult road situation on the federal highway M-5 «Ural» on the section from Shatsky District to the border with Mordovia.

The reason for the explanation was an appeal by a local resident Alexandra Bicheva, published on social media. The woman stated that traffic on the highway has been practically paralyzed for two days now. According to her, heavy trucks are standing on the road, and passenger cars have to travel for six hours or more. She also claims that since Friday, the road has not been treated or sprinkled with anti-icing materials.

«The root cause is that there was no equipment on the road on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. They let snowfall and black ice set in, didn»t sprinkle in time. On the ascents and descents, there are no piles of sand with shovels, as is provided for, for example, on the Kasimov road,« wrote the resident of the region.

The Ryazan Oblast transport ministry stated that the situation is under special control, and the department is constantly interacting with organizations servicing the federal highway.

According to road services, problems on the M-5 section arose due to heavy snowfalls and a sharp cold snap. As a result, black ice formed, and movement was complicated by standing trucks that hinder the work of special equipment.

The ministry emphasized that road services are working around the clock. Over the past day, about 800 tons of sand-salt mixture have been used on the highway.

Motorists are asked to be extremely attentive, take into account weather conditions, yield to road equipment, if possible avoid night trips, observe speed limits and distance, and refrain from risky maneuvers.

In Ryazan, the morning of February 3 also began with ten-point traffic jams.