MARIUPOL, Ukraine — Mariupol is still one of the most affected regions by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Lack of proper infrastructure actually disconnects it from other Ukrainian cities, preventing development of local business and not allowing people to conveniently travel.
Last year a delegation from the Infrastructure Ministry already visited Mariupol, a city of nearly 500,000 people located nearly 800 kilometers southeast of Kyiv. The whole trip to the city took us about eight hours. We had to fly to Dnipro first, then we took a car to drive on crumbling roads. The trip by train from Kyiv takes about 18 hours, and the Mariupol airport is closed.
That is why this region has become a priority for us.
This year we revisited this issue as we and representatives of the European Union visited Mariupol on Jan. 29. We met with leaders of Prydniprovsk and Donetsk branches of Ukrzaliznytsia, the directors of the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk, the heads of the Donetsk Road Service, representatives of local authorities and the Donetsk regional military-civilian administration. We conducted meetings in building the transport industry in the region and identified key projects.
Railway sector
Speaking about the development of cross-border connections in the region, we first of all aim to increase the capacity of the railway Pology–Komysh–Zorya–Volnovaha–Mariupol route at the approximate cost of 7 million euros.
We also aim to construct 16 kilometers of double tracks on the Khlibodarivka – Zachativska district. Currently the Zachativska–Khlibodarivka district of the entire Volnovaha–Komysh-Zorya direction remains the only single-track and limits the capacity of the route. Construction of a second track implies the construction of four switches and three low-ground passenger platforms (track equipment for signaling and communication) and will increase the capacity of the Komysh-Zorya district up to 49 pairs of trains per day (42 freight, 5 long-distance passenger trains and 2 suburban passenger trains). The estimated cost of the project is 4.5 million euros.
Another project includes the construction of an additional block station of 356 kilometers on Komysh–Zorya–Rozivka district. The operations analysis for train arrivals from Komysh-Zorya station to Rozivka station revealed insufficient capacity of the Komyzh-Zorya–Rozivka district with only one block station on a 346-kilometer milestone. Thus, we decided to build a second station. According to preliminary data and calculations, in total we will need about 470,000 euros for this project.
New freight locomotives
Currently, we have to always switch the freight traffic from an electrified track to non-electrified because of Russia’s war in the Donbas region. In order to overcome further complications, Ukrzaliznytsia should purchase new diesel locomotives that will satisfy the demand of transportation to Mariupol and Berdyansk.
Taking into account the existing experience of cooperation, we consider purchasing at least four General Electric locomotives. As an alternative, we are considering upgrading the 8-10 2TE116 diesel existing locomotives. The total estimated cost of the project is 13 million euros.
We are also planning the reconstruction of the Volnovaha locomotive depot which includes a locomotive servicing workshop and traction engine repair workshop. The estimated price for this project is 2 million euros.
Roads
One of the priority measures aimed at developing the transport and logistics infrastructure of the region in the mid-term is the development of road infrastructure:
The whole length of the N-11 Dnipro-Mykolaiv road is 240 kilometers with 100 kilometers of that being in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and 140 in Mykolaiv Oblast. Regular repair work of this road began in 2016. We need about 130 million euros for this project’s completion.
The implementation of this project will facilitate the major cargo traffic flows from the industrial centers of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions – in particular from Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhia, and Kamianskyi – due to the escalation around the Mariupol port and taking into account the fact that the Dnipro-Zaporizhia segment on the H-08 road was repaired in the previous years. In addition, full-scale repair works are currently deployed in Zaporizhia–Mariupol section. We are considering the possibility of completing the routine repair of H-11 Dnipro–Mykolaiv highway. The implementation of this project will allow to redirect traffic flows from the Mariupol port to Mykolaiv port, promote the development of seaports and terminals in Mykolaiv city, improve connectivity between regional centers and national ports, increase tourist attractiveness of the Black Sea region, and remove social tensions in Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions.
The N-08 Boryspil-Dnipro-Zaporizhia-Mariupol route on the Zaporizhia-Mariupol highway is a priority for us today.
This road was built in the 1960s. Today it is the main arterial road that leads to the Mariupol port. The road also serves as the major strategic direction for transport and military equipment, volunteers and international observers.
One of the priority measures aimed at the development of transport and logistics infrastructure of the region in the mid-term perspective is the development of road infrastructure, namely: completion of major and periodic repair of the H-08 Boryspil-Dnipro-Zaporizhia-Mariupol road along the route Zaporizhia-Mariupol. This will increase the capacity of the port of Mariupol, among other things.
We expected to see closer cooperation between regions, reduced travel time, increase in transit flows, improved quality of life and availability of medical and other services, development of regions as well as their investment attractiveness, and reduced expenses for road maintenance.
As I mentioned, repair and construction works of the specified road is set out as a priority in the road sector development, and it is provided by the State Target Economic Program on the Development of Public Roads of State Importance in 2018-2022.
The completion of this project means 104 kilometers (includes Donetsk region – 16 kilometers, Zaporizhia region – 88 kilometers) being repaired at an approximate value of 40 million.
M-14 Odesa–Melitopol–Novoazovsk
The routine repair of M-14 Odesa–Melitopol–Novoazovsk highway in the Kherson region started in 2016. Today the length of the M-14 Kherson-Mariupol highway is 406 kilometers which also includes 32 kilometers in Donetsk Oblast, 194 kilometers in Zaporizhia Oblast and 180 kilometers in Kherson Oblast.
Road rehabilitation will allow quick, comfortable, cost effective and safe transportation of passengers and cargo, intensive development of transit transportation, and the mitigation of the harmful impact of road infrastructure on the environment.
Moreover, it will strengthen the collaboration and cooperation between regions, reduce travel time, increase transit flows, and at the same time improve the quality of life and availability of medical and other services. Another benefit is the development of regions’ road infrastructure in the long run. We will increase the investment attractiveness of the regions and also reduce the expenses for road maintenance.
For 2019, Hr 238 million for 21 kilometers has already been provided. To complete the project we need an additional 313 million euros (352 kilometers in length of which 31.6 kilometers cover Donetsk Oblast and 194 kilometers – Zaporizhia Oblast).
H-30 Vasylivka–Berdiansk highway
The H-30 Vasylivka–Berdiansk highway is the main arterial road in Zaporizhia region. The road is part of the evacuation route in case there is an accident at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, at the same time, is a tourist road route leading to the resorts of Pryazovia, Berdyansk, and Prymorsk.
In addition to the improved cooperation between regions in general, we will reduce travel time and increase transit flows, improve the quality of life and availability of medical and other services in the region. Also, the repair and construction works on the specified road is part of the State Target Economic Program on the Development of Public Roads of State Importance in 2018-2022.
The routine repairs of this road started in 2018. Right now the length of the H-30 Vasylivka–Berdiansk road is 136 kilometers. As of Jan. 1, we have completed the repair works costing Hr 147 million covering 12.5 kilometers. For 2019 financing has not been provided.
It would cost about 70 million euros to cover the remaining 124 kilometers of road to complete this project.
Marine sector
It is important for Ukraine to purchase a self-service dredging vessel that would be used in the Azov Sea ports. At the moment, it is required to dredge 2 million cubic meters of the Mariupol and Berdyansk ports. It would take up to 2 years and about 24 million euros to complete this project.
According to clauses 3 and 16 of Article 15 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Sea Ports of Ukraine,” one of the purposes of the formation of the state enterprise Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority is the organization and provision of safe operations of the port infrastructure of state property such as hydraulic structures, safety systems for navigation. This will cost us approximately 16 million euros.
It is also necessary to purchase an icebreaker to support the safety of navigation in Ukraine’s Azov Sea seaports during the winter. Every year, the Mariupol and Berdiansk seaports use the “Kapitan Belousov” icebreaker for ensuring the uninterrupted operation of vessels in the Azov region. This icebreaker, however, was built in 1954, and now it is the only one in Ukraine. For further support of safety navigation in the Ukrainian Azov seaports we need to purchase a new icebreaker, which will cost approximately anywhere between 50–75 million euros.
How will this help?
All projects listed above are very important for the development of the Azov region and we are very interested in their implementation.
First, when we talk about priority projects, we think about people who live in the city. Having the ability to choose a mode of transportation is essential. The development of regions thanks to road infrastructure will also contribute to improving the quality of life and the availability of medical and other services for people who live in the region.
From a business and economic point of view, we simultaneously increase the investment attractiveness of the regions and reduce the cost of maintaining roads while increasing transit flows.
The implementation of the above-mentioned projects will also promote close cooperation between regions.
And I would like to highlight that today the help of the EU is extremely important for us. The union will initially provide 50 million euros in financing. Later, it will provide an additional 500 million euros once we move forward with our infrastructure projects.
Viktor Dovhan is the deputy minister on European integration at Ministry of Infrastructure in Ukraine.
