Chelyabinsk Region will assign $214m to construction and upgrades of roads in the region under a newly endorsed 2009-2011 motorways construction and development program, sources in the regional administration said today.

Minister for Construction, Infrastructure and Road Facilities Valery Shopov reported that of all the 8,500-km-long roads in the region, 8% have inadequate traffic capacity, and 10% are not hard-surfaced enough to cope with the load applied.

Of 288 bridges in Chelyabinsk Region, 36 are not suitable for auto traffic, and the weight-carrying capacity of another 50 has to be upgraded.