2.3 Armenia Road Network Distance Matrix Road Security Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits Road Class and Surface Conditions Armenia has a relatively well-developed road network, serving all areas of its economy with 257.6 km of roads per 1,000 km2. Most of freight and passenger transport is made by road. The road network is 7,700 km long with 1,400 km of interstate roads, 2,520 km of regional roads and 3,780 km of local roads. Surface condition of these roads varies from excellent to fair, although all are passable. Many sections are dual carriageway. The southern half of the country is very mountainous and has only one single main road stretching from Vaik to Meghri on the Iranian border. Damage to this road due to an earthquake or landslide could severely affect transportation of supplies to the region. Secondary roads are in poor condition and local knowledge would be essential before dispatching any supplies along such routes. The average width of the main roads is from 6 to 8 m and the secondary roads up to around 5 m. The road surface is mainly asphalt. Most of the roads are open all year, however during the winter; the roads in the North (Shirak and Lori Marzes) and in the South (Synik) could be closed for shorter periods due to insufficient snow cleaning machinery. The heavy snow and fogs are mostly common from the end of January to the beginning of February From 1992 till nowadays road reconstruction and rehabilitation are one of main areas were government of Armenia is involved together with different international organizational and fund, such as World Bank and MCA (Millennium Challenges Account) and All Armenian Fund. With help of these organizations all major roads and now even smaller road has been reconstructed and some portions even completely rebuilt. Such as recently built tunnel between roads Sevan-Dilijan let to bypass certain mount passes. Overall road maintenance relies on Ministry of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Armenia. Distance Matrix DISTANCES FROM CAPITAL CITY TO MAJOR TOWNS (km) Yerevan Gyumri Vanadzor Goris Vardenis Ashotsk Meghri Idjevan Yerevan - 125 118 240 162 160 373 135 Gyumri 125 - 60 365 238 36 498 136 Vanadzor 118 60 - 368 166 92 491 76 Goris 240 365 368 - 402 400 133 375 Vardenis 162 238 166 402 - 274 535 156 Ashotsk 160 36 92 400 274 - 533 172 Page 1 Meghri 373 498 491 133 535 533 - 508 Idjevan 135 136 76 375 156 172 508 - Road Security Public Safety is of major concern to the Republic of Armenia established in National Security Strategy of the Republic of Armenia. High level political interest in improving road safety clearly exists in Armenia, with the ambition to achieve the good practice road safety levels found in Europe. Armenia is firmly committed to improving its safety performance. In December 2005, a Presidential decree formed a multi-agency Task Force to develop proposals to address traffic management and safety issues and to develop proposals to reform the provision of traffic safety management services provided by the traffic police. The vehicle fleet in Armenia is old (12 years on average) and of relatively poor safety quality, however at least 10,000 newer vehicles are imported annually. Armenia is experiencing rapid growth in motor vehicle ownership and use. In the last five years the motor vehicle fleet increased by 30%, while the traffic carried by road increased by 38% (freight) and 61% (passengers). This rapid motorization is causing traffic congestion in Yerevan and traffic collisions to increase rapidly across the country There have been insecurity incidents on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan mainly in areas of Tavush and Gegharkunik regions, with several incidents on road between Ijevan and Noyemberyan, which passes close to the border and military emplacements. In the winter due to heavy snows some roads, especially road from Vanadzor to Yerevan and Yerevan to Kapan might be closed for one or two days, in winter all trucks have to have chains to drive through mountainous areas. Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits According to local legislation there are limits on certain axle loads: Single axle up to 10 mt Double axle up to 18 mt Triple axel up to 22 mt Above these limits there are charges per km, which has to be paid at the border crossing, in case trucks are registered not in Armenia, and trucks registered in Armenia within 30 days. Charges per km for truck with single axle exceeding load of 10 tons AMD USD Load Capacity: From 10 – up to 10.5 tons 45.00 0.11 Load Capacity: From 10.5 – up to 11 tons 110.00 0.27 Load Capacity: From 11.00 – up to 11.5 tons 175.00 0.42 Load Capacity: From 11.5 – up to 12.00 tons 265.00 0.64 Load Capacity: From 12.00 – up to 12.5 tons 375.00 0.91 Load Capacity: From 12.5 – up to 13.00 tons 530.00 1.28 Load Capacity: From 13.00 – up to 13.5 tons 770.00 1.87 Load Capacity: From 13.50 – up to 14.0 tons 1100.00 2.66 Load Capacity: From 14.00 – up to 14.5 tons 1430.00 3.46 Load Capacity: From 14.5 – up to 15.00 tons 1760.00 4.26 Load Capacity: From 15.00 – up to 15.5 tons 2100.00 5.09 Load Capacity: From 15.5 – up to 16.0 tons 2400.00 5.81 Above 16.00 tons and higher 2400 AMD plus 45 AMD per each 500 kg per km Charges per km for truck with double axle exceeding load of 18 tons AMD USD Load Capacity: From 18 – up to 19 tons 265.00 0.64 Load Capacity: From 19 – up to 20 tons 380.00 0.92 Load Capacity: From 20 – up to 21 tons 430.00 1.04 Load Capacity: From 21 – up to 22 tons 700.00 1.70 Load Capacity: From 23 – up to 23 tons 925.00 2.24 Page 2 Load Capacity: From 23 – up to 24 tons 1190.00 2.88 Load Capacity: From 24 – up to 25 tons 1540.00 3.73 Load Capacity: From 25– up to 26 tons 1950.00 4.72 Above 26 tons, 2650 AMD plus 55 AMD per each 1000 kg per km Charges per km for truck with triple axel exceeding load of 22 tons AMD USD Load Capacity: From 22 – up to 22.5 tons 90.00 0.22 Load Capacity: From 22.5 – up to 23 tons 110.00 0.27 Load Capacity: From 23 – up to 24 tons 175.00 0.42 Load Capacity: From 24 – up to 25 tons 265.00 0.64 Load Capacity: From 25 – up to 26 tons 395.00 0.96 Load Capacity: From 26 – up to 27 tons 550.00 1.33 Load Capacity: From 27 – up to 28 tons 705.00 1.71 Load Capacity: From 28– up to 29 tons 880.00 2.13 Load Capacity: From 29 –up to30 tons 1080.00 2.62 Load Capacity: From 30 – up to31 tons 1300.00 3.15 Load Capacity: From 31 – up to 32 tons 1540.00 3.73 Load Capacity: From 32 – up to33 tons 1805.00 4.37 Load Capacity: From 33 – up to34 tons 2135.00 5.17 Load Capacity: From 34 – up to35 tons 2650.00 6.42 Above 35 tons and higher 2650 AMD plus 45 AMD per each 1000 kg per km NOTE: For trucks crossing border, these charges are paid at the border to the customs office or at final destination before goods are released. Axle load limits LCA Country Transit Country Truck with 2 axles 18,000 kg 10,000 kg Truck with 3 axles 22,000 kg 30,000 kg Truck with 4 axles 36,000 kg 40,000 kg Road Class and Surface Conditions According to local legislation (Nº 112 dated, 12th Jan, 2008) there are 3 types of roads in Armenia. They are interstate, republican and regional Classification Road Description Class: Interstate, code M1 RN From Yerevan– Gyumri – Gogavan, average width 8 mt Class: Interstate, code M2 RN From Yerevan– Goris – Meghri, average width 5 mt Class: Interstate, code M6 RN From Yerevan–Vanadzor – Sadakhlo, average width 5 mt Route Nationale (bitumen), Route Nationale (gravel), Route District (gravel), Unclassified Route, Urban Routes etc… Page 3.