Traffic restrictions persist on the Kolyma highway due to ongoing snowmelt

In the frigid regions of Yakutia, Russia, a snow avalanche on the federal automobile road R-504 "Kolyma" has caused significant disruption to traffic. The incident, which occurred on March 27 at kilometre 594 of the FAD "Kolyma" in the Oymyakonsky District, has prompted a swift response from emergency services and road organisations.

The snow mass slide has led to the closure of the road, with traffic restrictions remaining in place as of 10:00 on March 28, 2024. The affected stretch of the highway extends from Tepliy Klyuch (km 478) to Ust-Nera (km 963).

To address this issue, a special emergency response unit was dispatched from the village of Tepliy Klyuch, Tomponsky District. Nine units of road equipment, including three combined road machines, two K-700-based bulldozers, two snowplows, one excavator, and one loader, are currently working tirelessly to clear the snow and restore traffic.

In addition, round-the-clock road equipment monitoring has been organised to ensure the safety of the clearance efforts. The Vilyuy Highway Administration has urged drivers to refrain from travelling in this direction until traffic is fully restored, although they were not directly involved in this specific event.

To help stranded drivers, parking areas and catering points have been established at strategic locations. These include km 430 in the village of Handyg, km 507 in the village of Tepliy Klyuch, km 755 in the village of Kyubeme, km 1009 in the village of Ust-Nera, and in unspecified locations within the Oymyakonsky District. Driver parking areas are located at km 552, km 596, and km 728.

Furthermore, traffic signs have been installed in the Tomponsky and Oymyakonsky Districts, and two traffic police posts have been set up to maintain order and safety.

Heavy snowfall continues to pose a threat of further avalanches, making the ongoing efforts to restore traffic flow crucial. For updates and inquiries, the 24/7 phone number of the Vilyuy Highway Administration's dispatch service is 79245938028.