Bridge into summer: how to get to Crimea by car
Until recently, those who traveled to Crimea by car were forced to travel from the Krasnodar Territory to the other side by ferry. In addition to the fact that for a passenger car with passengers it cost about 2 thousand rubles one way, it also took a lot of time. I went to Crimea three years in a row, in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The ferry service improved every year, but was still far from ideal.
For example, in 2014, the wait for the crossing exceeded 40 hours, and there was no infrastructure for such a massive queue. In 2015, the crossing took no more than ten hours, and in 2016 - only a couple of hours, provided that you purchased an electronic ferry ticket.
However, even two hours of waiting and inevitably spending 4 thousand rubles stopped many motorists on their way to Crimea. Now the peninsula will be connected by the Crimean Bridge, and the crossing will take 15 minutes of leisurely movement. However, you still need to get to the bridge, and most residents of Central Russia choose the M4 Don highway for this.
When leaving Moscow on the M4 (or driving past the capital), the driver will find himself on an excellent road. So that you can visually imagine its quality, it is enough to say that you can put a not very full glass of coffee on the dashboard and it will not spill or fall if you do not make sudden maneuvers.
- Peter Shkumatov
Most motorists drive slowly on cruise control in these areas. I met those who keep the permitted 90 km/h only a couple of times, mostly the speed on “cruise” was 105 km/h.
In these sections, the main thing is not to fall asleep, since the excellent road combined with the monotonous speed of movement greatly contributes to this.
M4 is a toll road, and travel on it will cost 575 rubles. for all sections if you try to pass at night (from 00:00 to 07:00), and 890 rubles if you go during the day. However, for all toll sections there is a more or less convenient detour. However, it may cost more than a trip on a toll highway.
It's all about portable cameras recording violations, of which, for example, I counted at least five on the Bogoroditsk bypass. How many didn’t you notice?
All tripods are accompanied by private cars parked in the most unexpected places in areas with additional speed limits. Let me remind you that if you hesitate and pass such a camera at a speed of 62 km/h with a limit of 40 km/h (and there are a dozen such sections on the alternative road), you will receive a fine of 500 rubles. (RUB 250 with discount for prompt payment). Such conditions make bypassing the toll section almost pointless.
On himself O There are also cameras for recording violations in the paid area. But all of them are preceded by large road signs with the sign “Video recording in progress.”
Thus, in a dangerous area, a motorist will easily slow down to the permitted speed, even if he had previously exceeded it.
In addition, almost all modern mobile applications that report cameras know exactly where they will be installed on the M4 Don highway. I didn’t notice a single portable complex on the M4, although a couple of years ago there were dozens of them there. This approach to preventing violations is an absolute advantage of the M4 highway.
- Peter Shkumatov
The only section of the M4 that has not been touched by the builder’s hand is still the Losevo-Pavlovsk section. Here, for almost 50 km, the M4 turns from a highway into an ordinary track from the last century with the number of lanes “one plus one”.
Traditionally, during the summer rush, gigantic traffic jams occur in Losevo and partly in Pavlovsk, where you can lose up to three hours. Despite the construction of the bypass, Avtodor obviously won’t make it in time this season, so I recommend that vacationers plan the road in such a way as to pass Losevo closer to night.
- Peter Shkumatov
Problems with coverage on the M4 begin 300 km before Rostov-on-Don. Immediately after the settlement with the self-explanatory name Sokhranovka, the asphalt becomes uneven, and holes appear in places. The speed of movement drops, trucks move into the left lane, since the coverage there is better.
Nevertheless, you can still drive 100-110 km/h. However, don't speed up. The closer you get to Rostov, the more problems you will encounter.
For example, the asphalt on the bridge over the Seversky Donets in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky has actually collapsed; you can drive there no more than 10-20 km/h. And then numerous repairs begin, narrowing the roadway.
I got stuck in a traffic jam for many hours near the village of Proletarka even late in the evening. There is a reconstruction of the overpass across the railway, and therefore the number of lanes has been reduced to one in each direction. The organization of traffic in this area leaves much to be desired, resulting in a huge traffic jam. I stood in it for two hours - I’m sure that if the repairs are not completed before the start of the holiday season, then this is not the limit.
- Peter Shkumatov
Next, you will find several more sections in succession where repairs are underway and the roadway has been narrowed. I won’t describe them all, but the total loss of time can be up to four hours. The work is going on very actively, including in the dark, but the scope of work is so large-scale that it is unlikely to be completed in a couple of weeks.
As a life hack, I recommend that motorists leave the M4 near the Mikhailovka interchange towards the city of Shakhty. Time savings can amount to several hours. However, there are many cameras installed on this road to record violations, so drive more carefully.
After Rostov-on-Don, the M4 takes on its previous appearance, so you can drive comfortably and quickly. In total, the road to Krasnodar took me 17 hours.