Is the road expensive?
As you know, on March 20, a toll section appeared on the Kyiv highway from 124 to 173 km with two toll points (PVP) at 136 and 168 km. If you are driving a car, you will have to pay 50 rubles for the 136 km toll point, and 40 rubles for the 168 km toll point. It turns out that one kilometer of a toll road will cost owners of passenger cars 2 rubles, and drivers of trucks - even more.
By the way, to get a speculative idea of how expensive travel on a toll road has become, just multiply the cost of gasoline by two. This will practically correspond to reality, assuming that you have a car with a 1.6 engine, which consumes about 6-7 liters of 92 gasoline per 100 km on the highway.
If we consider the most “hard” option, when it is necessary to “travel” from Obninsk to Kaluga every day there and back, then you will have to pay 5,400 rubles per month to the new owners of the road. Not so little.
Alternative route
So, after a new encroachment on the modest budget of ordinary citizens appeared on the usual path, many motorists thought about a free alternative road.
There is an opinion that since the road is free, and even instead of a toll road, it means you can’t drive on it. We decided to find out everything from our own experience and took a trip along an alternative route, turning from the M-3 “Ukraine” in the Erdenevo area at the 129th km in the direction of Aleshkovo - Vorobyovo - Detchino - Yubileiny. It is worth clarifying that in order to get to this junction you must already at the 128th km turn right, do not miss the sign in which the bottom point is VOROBYEVO, after it turn into a parallel drive (very long), drive under the bridge and turn right onto the same bridge. Further along the signs for VOROBYEVO it will be difficult to get confused.
Just in case, we publish a video of this maneuver:
Having changed the four-lane road to a two-lane one, we expected that we would immediately run into the “rear” of some truck and then spend a long time practicing overtaking similar ones. But the route surprised us with the absence of any excitement and almost desertion. Along the entire route we met 5-6 trucks. The road surface was mostly excellent, sometimes there were bad sections, but it was still spring!
Of course, the road, which runs through many settlements, did not allow us to speed up, but we could admire the picturesque places to our heart's content. In general, the loss of time on a 25-kilometer section is not so significant, about 10 minutes. Such a detour may well suit those traveling to the northern part of Kaluga. If in Detchino you turn again to Kievka, which in this place is very close - a kilometer away, then you can drive around the payment point with almost no loss of time. But there is a clarification: if you take the toll road along Matrosova Street, you will have to drive a long way in the opposite direction until you turn around. A little further there is another right turn to the Kyiv highway, but the road there, as is on purpose, is left in a “virgin” state, although it goes straight to the interchange and, accordingly, to the U-turn.
There is no point in trying to bypass the second toll point or driving in this way to the southern part of Kaluga, for example to Annenki. Starting from Detchino, this route becomes twice as long as the M-3 “Ukraine”, which means much longer in time, and even more expensive in terms of money, since you will also have to travel through the city.
It remains to add that today there is only one unpredictable nuance in traveling along the bypass road, or rather two - these are railway crossings. We were lucky and passed them without stopping. But according to the stories of those who have been driving along this route for many years, there have been cases of “great standing” for 20 - 30 minutes.
In general, the road made a good impression, and one can only hope that the income of the wealthy “neighbor” will give her something for the maintenance and support of “good shape”.
Well, if someone wants to drive along an alternative road in 9 minutes, we can offer a short video tour along the picturesque route. Only here the path in the opposite direction is captured.
Are you going on vacation to the south by car, but don’t plan to drive on toll roads? Then it's time to check what navigation programs are installed on your smartphone that will guide you along the route! Oddly enough, not all of them are ready to help save the driver money...
First, some lyrics. The opinion of a journalist, of course, does not have to coincide with the opinion of the editor, but personally I was and am in full confidence that public toll roads are an absolute and uncompromising evil that has no right to exist. A kind of symbol of evil, the quintessence and squeeze, similar to Belyaev’s air trade - in other words, an attack on the immutable and key values of humanity. Their existence cannot be justified by any arguments, and it is not necessary - because by trying to find at least some compromises in this phenomenon, we are setting ourselves on the slippery slope of reconciliation with evil.
By the way, one of the most radical mistakes of ordinary people who talk about toll roads is the mention of foreign experience: it seems to people that the existence of something “out there” is an indulgence in the right to the existence of the phenomenon... So, brothers, no! This is a system error. An attempt by the state or a commercial company affiliated with it to take direct payment for the right of a citizen to move around their country, and especially as is done in Russia, is vicious and immoral, regardless of the name of the country, the political and economic system and the level of well-being of the average resident. This should not happen in principle, neither in Russia, nor in Germany, nor in Honduras; roads are not an area for commerce and business at all! From the word “absolutely”...
Ugh... “Exhale, beaver, exhale” (c). Five minutes of hatred is over - let's move on to practice!
The well-known M4 Don highway, along which, I am sure, thousands of our readers are traveling south and back at the moment, is characterized by the presence of a large number of toll sections, some of which are equipped with warning information boards, and some are not... Not all Drivers, alas, have an intuitive ability to drive along junctions and detours, many also suffer from topographic cretinism, so it would be very convenient to plot the route using a navigator by checking the “avoid toll roads” box in the settings.
At one time, about ten years ago, when the most popular navigation systems were iGo and Nokia maps in smartphones based on the Symbian system, this function was present in programs by default, although it was not in demand - in general, there were no toll roads in Russia - in fact the history of their development begins in December 2010. In the neighboring settings, it only made sense to set it to ignore prime roads or ferry crossings.
This is how the route settings looked in the good old Nokia navigation on the Symbian system - the user, as we see, was given a very flexible choice - you could even ignore the highway in favor of dirt roads, and not vice versa!
The Symbian operating system has gone to a better world forever, but its navigation has evolved into the HERE Maps application, available for Android and Windows Phone. But the ability to bypass toll roads (and manage other road conditions too) has completely disappeared from it:
In some applications, the function did not disappear - it simply did not exist in the first place - as, say, in the popular free navigation program “7 Roads”:
Actually, someone may be surprised, but in one of the most advanced, popular and well-known navigation services, Yandex maps, it is also completely impossible to plot a route bypassing toll roads! But this service is used by a huge number of users!
Here's what Yandex specialist Dmitry Gorchakov explained to Wheels:
“There really has never been such a function in Yandex Maps... But if the route built by the user in Yandex.Navigator or Yandex.Maps includes a toll section of the road, then we warn about this - we mark the route with a ruble sign.”
This is, say, what a route along the Don highway looks like, built in Yandex.Navigator - before starting the movement, it is mentioned that there will be toll sections along the way, but no actions are suggested. This is, of course, better than nothing, but it requires the driver to constantly monitor the route and rebuild it manually when approaching commercial sections of the highway - but we would like to just set the finish point and drive calmly!
Google navigator has surpassed Yandex in this regard, but not everything is perfect with it either. You will not find any parameters for the future route in the application settings - they become available only after you have entered the address into the search and paved the way, but they do not pop up themselves - you need to manually poke the screen several times and find the “ticks” we need:
Let's look at paid navigation applications. Let's take the popular programs Navitel, CityGuide, ProGorod offhand - all of them, honor and praise be to them, suggest in the settings to ignore the state corporation Avtodor, which, contrary to the taxes collected by the state in general, as well as the road tax on vehicles and gasoline duties in particular, requires from citizens money at collection points:
However, having the ability to bypass toll roads in the settings of a navigation application, alas, is not a guarantee of success... A week ago, the author of this article urgently needed to drive along the Don highway, but the navigation applications I used on a daily basis and quite satisfying before, as it suddenly turned out, were not able to drive bypassing paid sections... There was no time left to search for the optimal software, so CityGuide was installed on the smartphone, which combined what was needed with a two-week trial period.
But, unfortunately, the application did not live up to expectations - starting from Moscow, I successfully drove around toll sections of the M4 highway along it, but the program either did not recognize the last two sections (the Voronezh detour and the route through the Voronezh region), or “messed up”, twice in a row leading me to the payment terminals, from where there was no retreat!
CityGID technical specialist Andrey Gaysenok commented on similar outrageous behavior of the software to Kolesam:
Russia is a very large country in which it is almost impossible to quickly take into account all changes in the road network - we are located in St. Petersburg and do not have an extensive network of branches... At the same time, our maps, or rather their quality, are considered one of the best, especially in the North -West! But, unfortunately, not all sections along the Don highway were marked as paid, so CityGuide laid out a route along them, assuming that they were free.
The problem here is more organizational than technical - it is related to the peculiarities of preparing electronic maps and the specifics of obtaining operational traffic information from the regions. Having received information from users or from official sources, our cartographers change the type of road section from free to toll, after which the map is republished, and the user receives a notification that they need to download the update.
The explanation, of course, is expressive, but given the not too significant (fortunately!) number of toll roads in our country, and also taking into account the fact that the introduction of each new toll section is heatedly discussed among the people and in the media, it would be possible to do it more quickly resolve the issue without waiting for information from outside, but simply using the Avtodor website...
So if you, the reader, are as ideological and principled as I am, and you have a route along the M1, M4, M11, and in the future along the Central Ring Road or other toll roads, then you should make sure in advance of the real skills of your navigation software! Well, or look carefully at the road signs and trust that they are where they should be...
Alternative opinion
Andrey Chepelev (site editor)
Reserving Evgeniy’s right to his own opinion, I will say a few words in support of toll roads, which are actively used in Europe. Concession projects involving private capital are not such a bad tool for the rapid development of the road network, especially in conditions of heavy burden on the state budget.
True, in order for everything to be fair, two conditions must be met. Firstly, the spending of budget funds collected from taxes must be transparent. Secondly, toll roads should have truly smooth and comfortable analogues, albeit with more severe speed limits and greater mileage. In Europe, if you set a goal, you can comfortably travel around countries completely free of charge, crossing country borders and enjoying the views of picturesque villages.
In Russia, unfortunately, there is neither transparency in spending funds nor smooth free roads. In fact, there are almost no picturesque villages left either.
Do you use toll roads?
Every time I return from traveling to the sea, I write about what the road was like, what the condition of the route is at the moment, what has changed since the last time. I pay attention to gas stations, places to rest and have a snack, and hotels for an overnight stay. I will not change this tradition even now. Before moving on to the story about our vacation, I’ll show you how we drove along the M4 Don highway to the sea, and I’ll briefly tell you about the most important thing.
Our trip south by car took place in June 2016. All the way I collected receipts from gas stations, toll booths, cafes, etc. How much something costs, payment time... Such things are quickly forgotten. You won’t have time to get to your destination, you’ve already forgotten everything. After all, the main thing in a trip is not numbers, but emotions.
In this article I will show you M4 highway,
I'll do it emphasis on toll sections (number, fare, location), I’ll tell you where we refueled, where we ate, where we spent the night. People ask me about this all the time. So it's relevant.
Advertising - club support
I’ll end the article with a story about hotels on the Don highway, where you can stay overnight on the way to the south. It is based on statistics of the most popular hotels among travelers, which I have as a Booking partner.
Here's the plan. So, let's go!
First, I will show our path in photographs. So I will introduce you to the track and its condition. You'll know what to expect. :)
Moscow. MKAD
The M4 highway appears on the signs
We change lanes and turn
M4 is not a road, but a runway :)
In the Tula region, the M4 is somewhat ornate...
Tula gingerbreads are sold along the road in the Tula region
Toll roads are good because they have emergency commissioners and motorist assistants.
At toll sections there are electronic announcement boards (including with the telephone number of the emergency commissioner, information about speed and air temperature).
Highway M4 in Lipetsk region
Stele "Lipetsk region"
We are entering the Voronezh region
The weather turned bad before our eyes, it started to rain...
and then it poured out like a bucket...
Tollbooth near Voronezh
We go around Voronezh
M4 is not yet finished. Some areas are being renovated...
Another area under renovation
Chalk mountains of the Voronezh region
820th kilometer of the Don highway
One of the hotels on the M4 highway - "Bike" in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky
Hotel "Pharaoh" at 937 km.
We pass the Meridian-South hotel in Krasny Kolos (1040 km M4)
Motel "Eurasia" in Aksai
Rostov-on-Don
Entry to the Krasnodar region
Hospitable Kuban greeted us with rain and greyness
Chapel, monument, museum in honor of the Kushchev attack (events of August 2, 1942)
At this turn we turned off the Don highway and drove along the villages to Anapa.
Toll sections of the road on the M4 highway
I heard on TV that in August 2016, the next, eighth, toll section of the M4 highway opened. Judging by our experience, as of June 2016 there were already nine of them. In my “piggy bank” there are 7 checks + 1 check we forgot to take + 1 section we drove on a free road.
Yes, Kostya decided to be a researcher and find out what these free bypass roads are. Alternative, as they are called. I was categorically against it - there are a thousand kilometers ahead, I have no time for experiments. As a result, we only drove around the first toll section from Moscow. The detour is quite good. Although it is two-strip, the fabric is normal.
The quality of the road on this bypass section is normal
The next time we left the road following the “free travel” sign, we immediately returned - the normal road ended... Kostya didn’t want to experiment anymore, fortunately...
Exit to the free road around Efremov
Toll sections of M4
Moscow region.
1/ The first toll section we drove around: 21 - 93 km. Cost: 50 rub. at night (on the way back)
Sign to the free bypass of the toll section
2/ 93 - 211 km. Put into effect later than we were driving. We passed it without paying.
Toll booths before they open
Tula region.
4/ M4 "Don" bypass of Bogoroditsk. 225.6 - 260 km. Toll booth at km 228. passed at 8.56. Fare: 60 rub.
5/ M4 bypass of the city of Efremov. 287.8 - 323.3 km. Toll point at 322 km. passed at 10.29. Cost: 60 rub.
Lipetsk region.
6/ M4 bypass of Yelets. 330.8 - 414.7 km. Toll point at 339 km. passed at 10.43. Cost: 120 rub.
7/ M4 bypass of Zadonsk and village. Khlevnoye. 414 - 464 km. We passed the toll booth at km 416 at 11.40. Cost: 80 rub.
Voronezh region.
8/ M4 bypass of Voronezh. 492.7 - 517 km. Toll booth at km 515. passed at 12.54. Cost: 35 rub.
9/ M4 PVP-545 km. 544 - 588.7 km. 545 km passed at 13.18. Cost: 70 rub.
10/ M4 PVP-620 km. 588.7 - 633 km. 620 km. passed at 14.12. Cost: 60 rub.
Total: at this point in time there are 10 toll sections on the M4. We passed at eight. We paid about 550 rubles.
Gas station on M4
Still in Moscow We refueled at a Shell gas station (41 liters for 1,680 rubles). Gasoline turned out to be bad. The car constantly stalled. There was one more time during the entire 3.5 week trip when we refueled at Shell, and the problem was the same. Here's your favorite dressing...
The rest of the time on the way south we refueled at Lukoil, and everything was fine:
- Gas station "Lukoil" at 720 km. in the Voronezh region 38 l. - 1,437 rub.
- Gas station "Lukoil" in st. Kushchevskaya 28 l. - 1,119 rub.
The new Lukoil complex in Kushchevskaya (1145 km, on the right) consists of a hotel, shopping center, restaurant, service station and gas station.
In total, on the way to the south we refueled for 4,240 rubles. (I'm rounding). This gasoline was enough for us to get from Moscow to Anapa, drive there for a week and then get to Gelendzhik.
In Gelendzhik we refueled again at Lukoil (43 liters for 1,705 rubles). And the next time was in Sochi a week later...
Toilets on the M4
Along the highway you can often find brick toilets of the “hole in the floor” type - and free-standing ones, most often near public transport stops and at large recreation areas.
These toilets are mostly dirty. In order not to drag all this into the car later, I recommend choosing gas stations for sanitary stops. In any case, the toilets there are much cleaner, and you can wash your hands and drink coffee in a cafe.
If you are coming from Moscow, stop somewhere at a large gas station in the Moscow region (Shell, Gazpromneft, etc.). In the Tula region there is a huge problem with gas stations where there are toilets, and in the Lipetsk region, in general, too. Skip the Moscow region, then wait for the Voronezh region. By the way, the same applies to the return journey. Don’t count too much on the Tula and Lipetsk regions! On the forest too. This is the wrong route.
Where to eat on the M4
We have a tradition - we always stop at the new generation Lukoil gas station in the Voronezh region at 720 km. (there are gas stations on both sides of the highway!). These are not just gas stations - these are modern complexes with a cafe, toilets, a store, children's playgrounds (both indoors and outdoors) and so on.
Food in a cafe at a Lukoil gas station at 720 km. M4 highway
"Wind Rose" (almost on the border of the Voronezh and Rostov regions).
If you are not an extreme sports enthusiast by nature, book your hotel room in advance. Don't know what time you will arrive at your hotel? This doesn't matter at all. You know the day. Check-in - at any time of the day.
Analyzed booking statistics by city and hotel. Most often, the following cities and towns are chosen for an overnight stop on the way south (M4 highway):
- Voronezh,
- Millerovo,
- Mines,
- Red ear,
- Kovalevka,
- Aksai,
- Rostov-on-Don,
- Mayakovsky,
- Kushchevskaya.
The choice depends on where people started from. It is more convenient for Muscovites to stay in Rostov and its neighborhood. For St. Petersburg residents - in Voronezh. Tula - in the Krasnodar region. There are, of course, personal preferences, but everything is individual.
Now the most popular hotels based on the results of May, June and July 2016. The list is very different from what I would recommend to you. I suspect that the majority of hotels are popular due to economic preferences (the same "Alpha" in Rostov) and a smaller part - due to comfort and coziness (for example, the Rodina Hotel in Mayakovsky). What to choose - decide for yourself.
Voronezh
Millerovo
Mines
Red ear
Kovalevka
Aksai
Rostov-on-Don
Mayakovsky
Kushchevskaya
"5 seasons" (7.9 rating)
Conclusion
People often ask me whether it’s difficult to travel south by car, and how we cope with the road, because these are such impressive distances. Yes, we tolerate it fine. We're used to it. We have everything worked out. We know where we'll stop to eat, when it's time to rest, and where there are proper toilets. We never pick up a bunch of food and then choke on it. The only thing we take is fruit (apricots, peaches), cut into slices into plastic containers and drink. Kostya can’t stand the pungent sausage smells in the car and is afraid that he won’t be able to get rid of them later. And we don’t have a traditional road snack.
We always stop overnight. We don’t take risks, we don’t strain ourselves. Driving without rest is not about us. It’s not about us to go into the unknown, looking for where to stop for the night along the way. We spend the night in pre-booked and verified hotels, where a relaxing rest and good food are ensured.
We never force ourselves. We get up at a comfortable time and drive at a calm speed. And we enjoy the driving process. Yes, it's a long way. About 1,600 kilometers. But on a highway like the M4, it’s not at all scary. Great track, God grant there are more like this!
The government recently “pleased” drivers by introducing a toll on another section of the M-4 highway from 117 km to 225, so now the fare from Moscow to Voronezh will cost 400 rubles instead of 300 rubles. Or maybe more.
I decided to write a post about the toll and free highway M-4 and how they differ.
At the beginning of November I went to Voronezh along the M-4 highway. I left the Moscow Ring Road at 8 am and drove along a good free (for now) highway, listening to music. Having traveled quite a bit, at 48 kilometers, you find yourself in the tenacious clutches of Avtodor.
Having paid 35 rubles (and I was driving a passenger car), I was glad that the state takes care of its citizens without imposing on them unaffordable financial expenses for travel on a toll road. (Really, what is 35 rubles in our time? The cost of a loaf bread.) By the way, at the first payment point from Moscow, the cashier said that you can pay with a VISA or MAESTRO card. But I didn't check it. Someone wrote, what happens if I forgot my wallet at home and have already arrived at the payment point? They will let you turn around so you can rush back to get your money.
I'm moving on. I needed to be in Voronezh after lunch, so this time I drove there along toll sections, without looking for free detours (although I went there and back both on paid and free routes). The sun came out, the fog cleared and from time to time I admired the beautiful views of fields and copses. Eh, Russia! Beauty!
The thought came to mind that now we are just paying for travel on a toll road, what if some tyrant official comes up with the idea of charging extra money for a road with a beautiful view. They will surround the highway with a fence, you will drive as if in a tunnel. Do you want to admire Russian beauties? Pay extra and go on a road with beautiful scenery. These are fantasies. The most important thing is that such a thought really doesn’t come to anyone.))
But the permitted speed of 110 km/h under good road conditions seems like a mockery to me. What's stopping you from doing more? 130-140 km/h, for example. And regulate using these boards. Road conditions have worsened, it has started to rain, snow, fog, immediately reduce the permitted speed on the board to one hundred or 80 kilometers.
I didn’t exceed, I didn’t go more than 120. After all, cameras are carefully placed on the road at the required intervals.
By the way, what do we have on the toll road? Out of interest, I called the toll-free number 8-800-1000-432 and asked what services were provided on the toll road. They explained to me that a person on the highway can call this number and report a breakdown or emergency. If you don’t have a phone, you need to run to the box marked SOS to contact the operator. They said that if you run out of fuel on the highway, they will deliver it for FREE, if the car breaks down, then they will drag you on a tow truck, as they said, to the NEAREST SAFE place, then 50 rubles per kilometer.
There are no free coffee machines on the highway.)) Only at Gazpromneft gas stations, as usual. In general, it seemed to me that this toll highway has very few convenient places to rest. To stop, stretch, throw the trash in the container. Although, there are garbage containers, but not many.
And about coffee machines, I’m pitching an idea to Avtodor. A glass booth is placed on the spot for relaxation, and inside there is a coffee machine. Of course it's not free. A man throws in some money and enjoys a glass of coffee. And they will use it. For example, a family is traveling. They poured tea into a thermos, but the driver wants to refuel with coffee. But stopping at a gas station, going indoors, standing in line at the cash register... Not everyone wants to.
I hope that Avtodor, if you use this idea, will not forget to write to me that I have the right to free coffee.))
Cameras are keeping a watchful eye on us.
The next time Avtodor takes you in pincers at 225 km (although, according to new information, the barrier for payment was stuck at 117 km, but the last time I drove, it wasn’t there at 117 km.) when going around the city of Bogoroditsk in the Tula region. There, for 35 km you no longer pay 35 rubles, but 60. (Unless, of course, you are driving a passenger car. Trucks and vans in all areas pay 3-4 times more than cars.) And of course, they don’t forget to say thank you on the check to try to lift the spoiled mood.))
This paid area has a large recreation area with a couple of tables and benches where you can get your food, have a snack, and stretch your legs. There is a toilet and, importantly, an overpass. You can stop by and see if anything is creaking or knocking from below.
A toilet, also known as a toilet, is an important thing on the road. There is almost no forest on this route so you can hide in the bushes and do this. They are especially needed in winter, when there is deep snow on the side of the road that you can’t get through. One day I decided to “inspect” a toilet on the M-4 highway. There is this separate bright building on the side of the road with the inscription MF.
The picture inside is, of course, as expected.
Well, it all depends on us, on people. If a person is a pig, he will definitely shit past the hole.
But the funny thing is that in such a toilet there is no door at all. You go around the corner and sit down. Still, it’s unpleasant when you’ve sat down, and then some guy comes up to you silently like a ninja from around the corner: “Ku-ku!” So, out of surprise, you can plug this hole with your ass. But it's free!
By the way, I noticed a couple of trucks with Ukrainian license plates in the parking lot, the drivers of which were resting. As I was driving away, a third one drove up. They’re carrying something, they’re not just rolling around... Although the news tells us that Ukraine’s trade turnover with Russia will almost completely stop. I am only for strengthening economic ties!
Without having traveled even 30 kilometers, namely near the city of Efremov, Tula region, you are offered to bypass it, driving less than 34 km for the same 60 rubles. We get 60 and pay. But it's starting to get boring.
I’ll tell you how one time I decided to drive along a free road in the area of Efremov, Tula region. I saw a poster that there was a toll road ahead and turned onto a free one. I drove about 300 meters and then the good road just ended. Once and for all.
And the slalom began!
You won't go off the rails!
I will not tell you with what words I scolded the road workers and the government and Avtodyr. I think, yeah, this is the free road! Has stopped. Moreover, cars regularly drove through these potholes. Doubting that I had taken the wrong turn, I returned to the highway, drove a little forward and there it was - a free road through Efremov! And she's normal!
I realized that I had turned before the sign, and this “monorail” and “mortar fired” road led to the nearest villages near the town of Efremov. It made me sad that some people have to drive through such shit. I hope that in the Tula region they will get to these local roads, otherwise it’s even a shame.
But what about a free road in reality? Quite normal. Just not as fast. Most often there is one lane in each direction, sometimes it expands to two.
There’s a truck dragging along, and for now you’ll choose the opportunity to overtake it. And the sign says 70 km/h.
Somewhere around 30.
And somewhere overtaking is prohibited.
But there are also beautiful landscapes on the free road. In the Bogoroditsk area you can drive through the “dense Pskov” forests.))
Winter version of this road.
Oh, Russia is beautiful!
But we go further, to Voronezh using a toll road.
And very soon, at the 330th kilometer, the empire (Avtodor) deals the final blow (to your pocket).
I drive up to the payment booth, put my 60 rubles in the tray, look at the cashier with kind eyes, and wait for the barrier to rise. But he doesn't get up. Somehow I figured that they charged 60 rubles twice, probably the same amount this time.
But the aunty from the booth looks at me like an owl (her eyes looked at me like an owl angrily and were wide open. She silently showed me a cardboard with a number drawn with a felt-tip pen. The number 120 was drawn there. (Apparently, people like me who were shoved 60 rubles by inertia, it was a lot.))
-A thousand devils, the price has doubled, the transponder is in their ass!!.. I take out 120 rubles, pay, and drive through.
For 120 rubles, in addition to travel, you definitely get free coffee or tea!!! Or wiping off dirt from headlights and glass.
But in fairness, it must be said that this toll section is large, more than 80 km.
By the way, at the checkout there is a sticker with Visa and Maestro cards. We need to clarify whether it is possible to pay with them here.
A little expensive at 120 rubles, but this payment will allow you to bypass, in addition to Yelets, Zadonsk and Khlevnoe. If you take the free road, you will jump over speed bumps to your heart's content! There are a huge number of them in the villages. So if you don’t need to go to Zadonsk itself (for example, to the Zadonsk Monastery), but further along the highway, then it’s better to pay. Verified. Here, on the screenshot you can see how the toll road bypasses Zadonsk and Khlevnoe.
Before Voronezh this was the last payment and after driving a little more, at exactly 14:00 we were in the city. Those who travel further along the M-4 will pay another 35 rubles to bypass Voronezh. My payments were one way to Voronezh 35+60+60+120 - I entered Voronezh. TOTAL: 275 rubles for 500 km. (Now it’s more, 400 rubles.) With a fuel cost of 34-35 rubles per liter of 1992, it turns out 275/35 = 7.8 liters. Voronezh is 500 km from Moscow. A modern passenger car consumes 6-8 liters on the highway. It turns out that in the absence of toll roads we would have traveled 100 km more. Or 1/5 of the way. Or maybe all 150 km.
Spent 6 hours for 500 km with a leisurely drive and 40 minutes to run to the toilet and warm up.
If you need, for example, to Yelets or to some village nearby, Stanovoye, Trostnoye, Buevka, Ekaterinovka, then you can go for free through Yelets, supporting the American economy by recharging yourself with coffee at the McDuck of Yelets.
When driving from Moscow, McDuck will be on the left.
When towards Moscow, then on the right.
In Stanovoy you can see a monument. A woman with a child accompanies her father/husband to war. Dedicated to the defenders of the Russian land, who survived and won the Second World War of 1941-1945 at the front and in the rear. Opened September 3, 2005 I read on the Internet that the monument was opened by WWII veteran L.P. Solomin.
If, on principle, you decide to drive only on free roads, I’ll tell you that I noticed either carelessness or a marketing ploy by Avtodor, directing more people along the toll road. At the junction of the free toll road there will be an interchange to Yelets, Orel, Lipetsk. And there is a yellow poster that says that an alternative road to Rostov-Don from km 354 to km 384 is being repaired. Here it is.
This is the denouement during the day.
You need to turn left under the bridge. There will be a sign there right away. Yelets - to the right, Rostov-on-Don - to the left. After Ekaterinivka, follow the sign - Bolshie Izvaly, just don’t go towards Lipetsk, follow the M4 sign, and the free road will go next to the toll road. So, I drove along the free road and did not find any repairs. There is not even a trace that there was a renovation somewhere and they forgot to remove the sign. Here's the move. But I repeat once again that despite the fact that there are signs for a free detour to Zadonsk, I still do not recommend driving through the free road through Zadonsk, Khlevnoe, etc. You get tired of driving at a speed of 30 km/h through villages. And there are signs. There's no catch here.
After staying in the city for a couple of days, we headed back. We slept, packed our things and at exactly noon we left Voronezh towards Moscow. I decided to go back strictly along free, alternative roads. And then I came across Avtodor’s little trick. In front of the first toll section from Voronezh there is a poster - free road KHLEVNOE, ZADONSK.
As I drive, I look with all my eyes for a poster that would indicate the exit to ZADONSK, KHLEVNOE. There is no such. There is an interchange with a sign for HORSE-WELL, which I pass safely and run into a ticket office and a barrier. At the first point from Voronezh towards Moscow they offer to pay 80 rubles for a car.
I asked the cashier: “Where was the exit for the free road?” He replies: “We should have taken the exit at the junction to KON-WELL.” I say: “There was a poster - a free road KHLEVNOE, ZADONSK. There was no sign to KON-WELL.” The cashier shook his head.
In a word, again a marketing ploy, you are automatically directed to a toll road.
So, for those traveling from Voronezh towards Moscow, before the first toll point, leave at the interchange for KON-KOLODEZ and you will find yourself on a free road.
I took a screenshot, you can see on the map that the free road went to KON-WELL.
Such tariffs are now on the toll section bypassing Zadonsk and Khlevnoye towards Moscow from Voronezh.
What about the free road? If you think that the toll road is as smooth as a table, but the free road has potholes and ruts, then this is not so. Or rather, not quite like that. The free road is now also being monitored; the road surface, if not excellent, is good.
This is an old track. When there were no toll sections built, everyone drove there on the M-4. Experienced drivers know. And already at the beginning of the two thousandth, in 2003, we were driving south along this road, it was already busy then.
There are also plenty of gas stations on the free road to Voronezh. Lipetsk Fuel Company, Rosneft and something else.
As I said, I drove back, trying to drive on free roads. And as luck would have it, just when you want to go for free, something gets in the way. Either there is no sign, or the asphalt on the bridge is being repaired (there are about three of them there). We had to stand for 5-7 minutes; cars were allowed to pass in batches along one lane.
Well, when we go towards Moscow, everything seems to be more or less with signs. You can choose whether to travel for a fee or for free. Free travel through Efremov.
There is a stop with a funny name. Do they sell burnt vodka here?
There is a picturesque place in front of Bogoroditsky. Pond, dilapidated church in the village of Kuzovka, Tula region. It is very pleasant to drive through here at the beginning of summer. Or in the fall. although it will work in winter too.
We drive through Bogoroditsk in the same way. In Bogoroditsk, as I already said, there is a memorial to those killed in the Second World War.
There is a small car service with tire service, a cafe, etc.
I don’t even mention that in the Tula region you can buy Tula gingerbreads, it goes without saying. Both on the toll highway and on the free route, they sell everywhere.
A long time ago, several years ago, I was driving home with a friend and was terribly hungry. I saw Tula gingerbread and I wanted it so bad. I grabbed the biggest one, about 30 centimeters long. I took 3 bites and was full.)) They are sweet and very high in calories. The remaining piece was devoured by friends at their former work, and the carrot went for a sweet soul.
I noticed that all the fields along the sides of the highway were fenced off and were either already owned or for sale. There is simply a lot less empty land. What is this, import substitution in action?
Behind the trees, the ground is also plowed.
And now we are approaching Moscow again and the first payment post with its 35 rubles looms ahead.
Here I would pay, the amount is small. Otherwise, you will have to turn sharply to the right, then right again to get onto Kashirskoe Highway and go through Nemtsovo, Pozdnovo, Belye Stolby microdistrict. At the intersection, turn right following the Moscow, Chelyabinsk sign, drive a little and get out on the same M-4 km 20 from the Moscow Ring Road. Such maneuvers are justified if you need to immediately get onto Kashirskoe Highway or you have a little time and a desire to save money.
I made a conclusion for myself. What if you go to Voronezh, you can drive partly on a toll road, partly on a free one. Of course, don't rush. Then you need to go strictly on the toll road. But the last part, bypassing Yelets, Zanonsk and Khlevnoe, I think it’s more convenient to use a toll.
And when we give our money at toll booths, we will remember that we not only pay for travel only on the toll highway, but also finance the maintenance and repair of the free one, as Sergei Kelbakh, chairman of the board of the state company Avtodor, said in an online interview with Gazeta.ru.
I’m interested in the opinion of people who use all sorts of T-passes and transponders, whether they really help you save money. By the way, there was recently a discussion about whether to make a section of the M-1 highway also toll.
It would be interesting to know who drives how. Bye! Thank you for reading. Good luck to everyone on the roads!
By the way, there was recently a discussion about whether to make a section of the M-1 highway also toll.
Road M4 Don
It's the month of August, or rather its honorable second half. It so happened that we found ourselves among that huge flow of tourists who decided to go by car to the Black Sea.
As a rule, everyone travels from Moscow to Rostov-on-Don or its suburbs, spends the night, and on the second day covers the remaining hundreds of kilometers to the resort. For example, we still had 460 kilometers left after Rostov, but that’s a different story. Today we’ll talk about 1100 kilometers from Moscow to Rostov.
The exit to the Don highway (M4) is located in the south of Moscow, immediately after the exit to Kashirskoye Shosse. Some people sometimes call the Moscow-Don route New Kashirka.
We planned to leave at 4:30 in the morning, but were able to leave the house only at 6:30. Ahead was exactly half of the Moscow Ring Road and the exit to the highway. After the exit from Mkada, a free section of the road begins, on which there is already a traffic jam due to an accident. After spending at least an hour, we finally broke through!
Ahead of us was the first toll section of the road, which we hoped to get through like a bullet, but that was not the case. The day before, through the Avtodor website, which is building a toll highway, we bought a transponder similar to a travel card, they are called T-pass. You transfer money to the device, which must be glued to the windshield, and drive through a separate window. The cost of this thing is 800 rubles, which are not refundable, money is written off for each plot. However, the route designers did everything to ensure that transponder owners did not relax.
You are driving along a two-lane road, ahead of you is a passage through toll booths and a giant traffic jam... Because two lanes turn into 6 literally a hundred meters from the checkpoint. No one cares that the left lane is for t-pass holders, one Tambov wolf pushed us so hard to the side of the road, not realizing that he needed to go to the right. Avtodor employees regulate traffic after the start of the expansion, driving away all sorts of wolves into their lanes, but this does not save from traffic jams. Here's a pass for 800 rubles.
I was surprised by the system that was made. A bunch of paid sections, mixed with free ones, in front of each there is a traffic jam. Because we are forced to pay for the road, in front of which we have to stand in a traffic jam. I'm not saying that the cameras are tormented, there are unjustified speed limits in front of the camera. The infrastructure of paid areas also leaves much to be desired. Sometimes you came across rest stations like these, but they were miserable. There is not even a pharmacy in the entire area. Toilets are found regularly, and that's it. Perhaps I am comparing it with the toll autobahns of Spain, France, and Austria, but our version does not hold up at all.
I don’t know why the pieces of toll sections were made; I can’t call it any other way, apparently due to savings on equipment at exits and entrances to the road. The most testing section was 2 kilometers, in front of which there was a traffic jam of 2 kilometers. Well, where is the justice?
Everyone is rushing south.
With grief in half, by one o'clock in the afternoon we reached Voronezh, the bypass toll road around which is perhaps the only normal section. Time to have lunch.
After monitoring the traffic situation for a week before the trip using Yandex traffic jams, I came to the conclusion that eternal redness is observed in the Losevo area, which is located after Voronezh. Therefore, it is better to have lunch before the traffic jam to relax.
Yandex maps showed a large number of cafes in the area of the Maloye Usmanovo settlement, which is located just outside Voronezh. Our attention was attracted by a cute pink cafe called Gramophone at the Usman Hotel.
Preparations for the wedding were underway in the main hall, so we were fed lunch in the room where the hotel breakfasts are held. The menu is cool, the food is delicious, the prices are low rather than high - normal. I recommend this establishment!
After a delicious lunch, we were completely ready for the traffic jam in Losevo. It is worth saying that most of the cars were driving towards Rostov with Moscow license plates, and many were expensive premium cars. As they say in the advertisement, everyone went to cheat on Red and Black.
After Usmanovo, there is an improvised recreation area on the right. People drive their cars off the highway onto the grass under the trees, lay down blankets and relax. So, be aware of the free grass area.
Approaching Losev, we become participants in impromptu off-road jeeping. There is a dirt road running parallel to the highway, which is much more pleasant to drive on than to stand in a traffic jam in 35 degree heat. This is not even a roadside, so the traffic police did not touch the line of Moscow cars. Only people laughed in conversations that Moscow came to them in an organized manner to create traffic jams.
Having passed Losevo, Yandex took us off the road and for quite a long time we drove along a not very good, but empty road. Rare Moscow cars rushed towards us, obviously returning from the south, we constantly overtook those who were just going to the seas. Apparently, we have met those who use the Yandex navigator, it’s good that there are not many of them.
Villages, colorful locals and kilometers of fields with sunflowers floated past us. I don’t know why, but sunflowers absolutely delight me. Apparently Vangog and I have similar taste.
m4
Sunset in Rostov
At 8 pm we entered Rostov-on-Don, having completed the journey in 11 o'clock, not counting lunch. In general, for a distance of 1100 km, the peak season and the “care” of Avtodor, this is not so much.
Another hour later we arrived in Azov, where we had booked an overnight stay in a guest house (an excellent place at a reasonable price). I had enough strength to order a pizza, pick at it and fall asleep in a heroic sleep.
Why did we go to Azov? In order to have the opportunity to make a feint with your ears and in the morning, based on the traffic jam situation, decide which way to go to Gelendzhik: along the M4 or a detour through Timashevsk and Krymsk. Monitoring traffic jams for a week before leaving led me to the decision to cancel my hotel reservation in Rostov and book a hotel in Azov, from which it is more convenient to travel along the bypass road. Everything indicated that the likelihood of a detour was high.
The road was difficult in some places, but overall we even enjoyed it. We prepared before the trip, I hope our observations before and during the road will help other drivers. If it weren’t for the stubs of toll roads, it would have been great. Even if travel would be more expensive, there would be one entry and exit for a long distance. The next day the road to the sea awaited us, and it warmed our souls.
