Harsh weather and remote locations make road upkeep inherently difficult. But add to that the government practice of using sub-standard materials for repairs and you have a perpetual cycle of construction. Its like the Golden Gate Bridge – as soon as they finish painting the whole thing, its time to start a fresh coat again.
The process is intentional; both to keep people employed (and inflate employment numbers) and to keep money flowing through the lucrative construction industry.
Constant construction and disarray mean that it takes a long time to get anywhere and vehicles take a beating.
The “highway” between Perm and Ekaterinburg (cities of nearly a million and half people) was a gravel road until about 12 years ago.
During the Cold War, roads constructed of concrete covered rebar frames were built in haste to support the weight of tanks and military equipment. Now, rebar pourtudes through crumbling concrete and presents a major hazard for drivers.
With ever-present law enforcement corruption (though the situation has improved greatly in recent years) drivers work together to keep tabs on highway police presence. Many drivers have CB radios to share kilometer marker locations of waiting police with others on the road.
Whether intentional or not, the unpredictable state of roads throughout the country reinforces the importance of the railway system as one of the most reliable ways to get around the country.
