The article presents the main findings of the research into the regional road infrastructure, carried out on the example of the Vologda Oblast. It highlights the role of the Vologda Oblast road infrastructure in economic development of the region and country as a whole, and its impact on the enhancement of the standard of living. Motor roads of regional significance are used for interregional and inter-district transportation, they also provide entrance to towns and villages; they are an important tool for achieving social, economic, foreign policy and other purposes, while also improving the quality of life. The authors provide the characteristic of the dynamics of the road network development; they also analyse the current state of the Vologda Oblast roads and their compliance with road standards. To date, the existing road network does not meet the parameters, the socio-economic needs, and, first and foremost, the development rate of motorization. The availability of natural resources and their limited development due to the lack of roads requires the adoption of urgent measures to change the condition of the road network, to increase its length, the solidity of road surface, both at the federal and regional levels. According to the authors, the primary task of the road infrastructure development consists in equalization of the availability of roads in Russia’s regions taking into account the specifics of their territorial organization. The provision of high quality transportation requires not only the availability of roads, but also the developed road infrastructure that can ensure smooth transport and cargo flows. It is impossible to achieve fundamental changes in the economic situation of the region without handling road sector issues
Keywords
road infrastructure, transport infrastructure, regional motor roads, road construction, road
network, road fund