Poor roads have historically been the bane of Ukraine and other post-Soviet states. Now this situation is changing. We are entering an era of intensified road building across much of the country.

The first modern highway-type road in Ukraine was built years ago from Kiev city to nearby Boryspil airport. Next, new pieces of roads began to be built in and around Kiev and other large metropolises. Finally, work began on highways between large cities — most notably, the Kiev-Odessa highway that is nearing completion. Also, large stretches of the Lviv-Uzhhorod highway have been rebuilt to higher standards.

Now, a number of new bridges and thoroughfares are under construction in Kiev that will significantly ease ever-increasing traffic problems. A new roundabout road is also in the planning stages that will create a half-circle or circle around Kiev outside of city limits. I imagine similar projects are underway or will be underway eventually in Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Donetsk, Lviv, and other large, traffic-clogged Ukrainian cities.

Also on the agenda are autobahns. No deals have been made yet, but Ukraine plans to draw foreign investors to build high-speed highways that drivers will likely have to pay to use. The problem with highways built during Soviet times is that they pass through the middle of towns and cities rather than skirting them as modern highways do. As a result, there are lots of locals walking along the roads, and the quality of the pavement takes its toll on vehicles.

Eventually, major work will also need to be done on city roads. Many of these are in much worse shape than intercity highways.

The source: TryUkraine