It will become wider and safer: how is the reconstruction of the highway M3 Minsk – Vitebsk

Large-scale renewal of the Belarusian transport arteries is provided by the state program "Roads of Belarus" for 2026-2030. One of the important projects was the reconstruction of the 24-kilometer section of the M3 highway Minsk - Vitebsk, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency reports.

The track is updated in several stages. Work began in June 2026, and they are scheduled to be completed in May 2029. The road will be made four-lane, and its covering will become cement concrete. New interchanges and additional safety features are also provided.

Work is currently underway throughout almost the entire area. They involve more than 100 units of equipment and the same number of specialists from several organizations.

Specialists are preparing the route from the border with the Minsk region to the area of the village of Babtsy for the transition to new parameters: expansion to four lanes of two in each direction and a new surface. According to Pavel Kurchenko, head of the road works department of Vitebskavtodor, cement concrete retains its operational properties longer and is more economical in maintenance. At the moment, road workers are clearing the withdrawal lane in some areas, uprooting stumps, sprinkling sand and leveling the base.

About 6 thousand cubic meters of sand are delivered to the highway daily. It is distributed and compacted. To prepare the base, modern equipment with GPS navigation is also used. In particular, thanks to the auto grader, the monitor operator monitors the altitude marks and more accurately exposes the dump.

Work is boiling in the area of the river Studenko. Temporary detours and extensions are arranged here, new water passage pipes are laid.

Also on the updated highway there are three major traffic interchanges. In the village of Babtsy will make an underground tunnel. Its construction is necessary, among other things, so that agricultural machinery from the fields does not cross the main road.

On the axis of the highway will install a separation fence to prevent cars from leaving the oncoming lane. Another investment in security is the appearance of a safety net along forest areas. It will prevent wild animals from entering the roadway.

The new object will be the bridge over the river Studenko. A transport interchange will be arranged with him.

Special upgrades are provided at the M3 section, which passes through the town of Begoml. It is planned to upgrade the road infrastructure. On both sides of the highway there will be pedestrian paths and modern lighting, digital panels will be installed. In addition, the stops will be separated from the carriageway by islands of safety, and special driving pockets will be made for public transport.

It is important to note that they do not plan to completely block traffic during the reconstruction of the route. Currently, cars continue to drive on the existing road - one lane in each direction. After the construction of two new lanes, traffic will be temporarily carried out along them, which will allow dismantling the old part of the road. As for the constant reverse movement, Vitebskavtodor noted that there is no need for it yet. If such organization of the movement is required, it will be introduced locally and for a short time.

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