The WHSD or Western High-Speed ​​Diameter is a route not only of a city scale, but also of a federal scale. She unloads transport network northern capital, connects Vasilievsky Island with other areas of the city, reducing the number of cars in St. Petersburg, and helps improve the environmental situation in the city.

On a city scale, the WHSD ensures an increase in freight turnover due to the creation of an approach to the Grand Port, deducts taxes from the operation of the highway, provides jobs for service personnel and construction workers, and improves population mobility.

Main sections of the WHSD

The total length of the highway is 46.6 km, almost half of the highway is located on artificial structures, there are a total of 9 interchanges along it, and on different sections the number of lanes varies from 4 to 8. Maximum speed vehicle movement allowed on the WHSD is 110 km/h. There are 3 main sections of the highway:

A detailed diagram of all sections is available on the official website nch-spb.com in the “Operation” section.

Tariff zones

There are 5 tariff zones on the WHSD highway:

  1. Ring Road (south) - Blagodatnaya St.
  2. Blagodatnaya street - Makarova embankment.
  3. Makarova embankment - interchange with Shuvalovsky Ave.
  4. Interchange with Shuvalovsky Ave.-KAD (north).
  5. Ring Road (north)-E-18 “Scandinavia”.

There is also a common tariff zone, including all 5 of the above, it connects the Ring Road (south) with E-18 “Scandinavia”. Depending on which zone the driver plans to cross and on what vehicle, such a fee will be charged to him for using the WHSD.

The transport interchange in the northwestern regions of St. Petersburg is a large-scale structure and is called the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter.


There is a charge for travel on the WHSD. The fare is determined by the section, travel time, and type of transport. Drivers for vehicles of categories B and C pay from 10 to 40 rubles, D and E - 30-130.

All money received from tolls is used to maintain this grandiose highway in proper technical condition.

In 1990, the project to create a transport interchange was included in a ten-year implementation plan, however, construction actually began only in 2005. When there was an urgent need to relieve the traffic collapse in the Northern capital.

The construction of the highway is carried out almost around the clock without stopping for a long period. Finished parts are put into operation immediately.

Upon completion of construction, the highway will connect the Moskovsky and Kirovsky districts with Vasilyevsky Island. The central part of the city will be decongested, and there will also have to be a reduction in traffic in the southern and northern areas of the city.

Features of the construction of the WHSD

Most of the diameter is man-made, created to preserve the integrity of the architecture and landscape through which it passes. To preserve green areas and facilities, the architects developed a project on overpasses.

Such a length of suspended structures and construction technology have never been erected in Russia, so the structure can be considered unique.

The WHSD will become a new attraction of the city, as it has already gained popularity among tourists. For example, the length of the central span of the cable-stayed bridge over the Ship Formator is more than three hundred meters.

The structure, located above the Petrovsky Formator, consists of a 220-meter structure, and an additional 400-meter-long two-tier bridge is being installed on the Sea Canal.

According to the general plan, the WHSD includes 3 sections:

  • Northern;
  • Southern;
  • Central.

The length of the WHSD is 47 kilometers and more than half is occupied by bridges, tunnels and overpasses.


Southern section

At the end of 2008, the Southern section was opened, construction of which was completed in 2012.

The length from the beginning of the Ring Road to the Ekateringofka River is 8.5 kilometers, 2/3 of which are overpasses. There is heavy traffic in the area freight transport to the Great Sea Port.


There are 4 interchanges for the sections:

  • st. Blagodatnaya;
  • st. Automotive;
  • Ring Road area;
  • River embankment.

Northern section

In 2013, the Northern section was opened on the WHSD. The event was attended by Russian President V.V. Putin. The length of the section is 26 kilometers.

The structure connects Primorsky Avenue and the E-18 Scandinavia highway, which is of international importance.



Central section

The diameter connects Vasilievsky Island with the Primorsky districts. The length of the section is 12 kilometers. This is the most difficult stage of work as it included the construction of 10 artificial objects.


In July 2017, the traffic management scheme for the exit to the Makarov embankment was changed. Entrance to the WHSD takes place on the street. Cash and Morskaya embankment, entry from Admiralteysky Proezd was closed. There were no changes at the exits from the WHSD.


Feasibility study of construction

Budget construction work more than 210 billion rubles.

Funds were raised in the following ratio:

  • 40% private investors;
  • 50% government;
  • 10% bond issue.

A specially developed alloy for structures makes the highway elements durable.

The WHSD does not include at least 4 lanes. Maximum width 8 stripes. Car traffic 120,000 cars. Thus, with a minimum payment of 30 rubles, the revenue will be 3,600,000 rubles.

In the future, they plan to organize traffic on the highway regular buses, equip stops, and install escalators and elevators for pedestrians next to them on the slopes.

Double-tier and spiral bridges, a tunnel laid under the river, are not only a beautiful sight, but also a functional connection between areas, ensuring the comfort of all residents and guests through the installation of noise barriers.

The test mode of operation of the Central section of the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter ends and a fee will be introduced on it from February 4, 2017. Moreover, at the same time, the payment collection scheme will be completely revised. The entire WHSD route is now divided into 5 tariff zones, each costing 60 rubles.

This is the base price when paying in cash or by bank card. Thus, the expected strong increase in the cost of travel along the WHSD has not happened since the new year and, contrary to expectations, travel along the entire route will cost 300 rubles (from the Scandinavia highway to the Ring Road in the south of the city). But for those who prefer to pay in cash or by card, the night rate is canceled. That is, the price of 60 rubles () per plot will be around the clock. Here is the official tariff zone diagram:

  • Zone 1. Ring Road (South) - Blagodatnaya Street
  • Zone 2. Blagodatnaya Street - Makarova Embankment (Vasilievsky Island)
  • Zone 3. Makarova Embankment (Vasilievsky Island) - Future interchange with Shuvalovsky Prospekt
  • Zone 4. Future interchange with Shuvalovsky Prospekt - Ring Road (North)
  • Zone 5. Ring Road (North) – Highway E-18 “Scandinavia”

UPD: From May 15, 2017, to encourage drivers to use transponders, an increase to 100 rubles is introduced. fee when exiting Bogatyrsky Prospekt when paying in cash or by credit card.

UPD: From July 22, 2017 to 100 rubles. The cost of travel in any zone increases when paying in cash or by credit card. Traveling the entire WHSD route when paying in cash at each point will cost 500 rubles. The experiment at the exit to Bogatyrsky Prospekt was apparently considered successful; now the experience extends to the entire route and using cash has become as unprofitable as possible. The only surprising thing is why the developers of the tariff schedule go the other way - instead of increasing the discount on the transponder or making more flexible tariffs, they set protective tariffs when paying in cash.

When using a transponder, the savings will be 15% compared to paying in cash. In addition, thanks to the recently introduced Flow+ system, if the route is less than the tariff zone, the transponder owner will save not 15%, but even more, since the cost will be calculated based on the actual distance traveled. This is due to the fact that not all exits have toll booths, but all have devices for reading the transponder signal. This allows us to cut tariff zones even more finely for this category of highway users. Another significant advantage for transponder users is the preservation of the night tariff (50% discount applies from midnight to 6 am).

At the end of the review, a few photos of the WHSD and video:

The long-standing need to create a transport connection between the north-western and its central parts was embodied in the large-scale construction of an intra-city toll highway called the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter.

How it all began

The history of the development of the project began back in 1990, when the USSR government, in its next decree on the prospects for state construction, included it in the plan for the coming decade. For many years, the leaders of the now Russian state have not ignored the issue of improving and developing the transport infrastructure of the Northern capital.

Construction work began in 2005. The construction of the highway is ongoing, with the finished sections of the route gradually put into operation.

Meaning of expressway

The result of many years of work will be a high-speed route connecting southern part cities (Moskovsky and Kirovsky districts) with Vasilievsky Island and Primorsky district. The new road will remove the main traffic load from the central part of St. Petersburg, as well as in the southern and northern parts cities.

In accordance with the master plan, the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter of St. Petersburg consists of three sections: Northern, Southern and Central. Total length transport system reaches forty-seven kilometers. Almost half of this length is occupied by bridge structures, overpasses and tunnels.

Uniqueness of construction projects

The presence of a large number was dictated by the characteristics of the industrial infrastructure and landscape area in the area of ​​the highway. In order not to violate the integrity of previously constructed facilities, as well as to demonstrate respect for the green area, the project architects decided to build a significant part of the route on overpasses.

Nothing like this has ever been built in Russia. The Western High-Speed ​​Diameter has become a leader in the field of innovative construction. St. Petersburg can rightfully be proud of its modern facilities, which will certainly become new attractions of the Northern capital.

Some of the buildings can be considered unique. It will be like this cable-stayed bridge, under which the Ship Fairway passes. The length of the central span of the mentioned structure is more than three hundred meters. Another bridge crossing the Petrovsky fairway has a main span of two hundred and twenty meters long. At the intersection of the Sea Canal, work is underway to construct a four-hundred-meter bridge structure with two tiers.

Effective diameter sections

The first fragment of the Southern section was inaugurated in October 2008. It became fully operational four years later. The southern section originates from and connects to the transport interchange on the embankment of the Ekateringofka River.

The length of the Southern Highway is eight and a half kilometers. Almost two-thirds of the route is occupied by overpasses and bridges. This is the most critical segment of the diameter, supporting the traffic intensity of the continuous flow of large-sized transport in the direction of the Big Seaport.

The Western High-Speed ​​Diameter was continued with the opening of working traffic on the Northern section in August 2013. The President of Russia was present at the ceremony. The length of the new route was over twenty-six kilometers - this is more than half of the total length occupied by the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter. The traffic pattern runs from Primorsky Prospekt to the international highway E-18 called “Scandinavia”.

Central section of the route

As for the Central section, intensive work is currently underway on its construction. The Western High-Speed ​​Diameter on Vasilyevsky Island will be laid along the border of the entire territory, connecting it with the Admiralteysky and Primorsky districts of St. Petersburg. The total length of the route is about twelve kilometers. This is the most technically difficult part of the project, since the construction of ten artificial structures is planned here. According to preliminary calculations, the launch of the Central Line is expected by the beginning of 2016.

Economic and technical indicators of the project

The Western High Speed ​​Diameter represents the largest European partnership between public and private investors. As a result of the merger of cash flows, a budget was formed that exceeded two hundred and ten billion rubles. Half of them are budget funds, forty percent are money from private investors. The remaining ten percent was raised through the issue of government bonds.

Various sections of the highway will have four to eight lanes. Permitted speed limit road transport on the highway - 110 kilometers per hour. Once all sections of the route are put into operation, the expected throughput will be at least one hundred thousand vehicles.

Current fares

The Western High-Speed ​​Diameter is a toll highway, the funds from which will be used to maintain the grandiose structure in appropriate technical condition.

The existing sections of the diameter are divided into several tariff zones, in which the cost of travel depends on the type vehicle and time of day. For passenger cars and small trucks, the price ranges from ten to forty rubles. Owners of heavy trucks must pay from thirty to one hundred and thirty rubles.

Forms of payment

For the convenience of using the passage, motorists are offered several forms of payment. Those who rarely travel along the WHSD can buy a ticket in cash or pay with a bank card.

Another payment option is to use contactless smart cards, which can be borrowed from the operator servicing the track. BSCs can be anonymous or personalized. Registration of the latter provides the user with a ten percent discount. It is enough to regularly top up your account on the card, and movement along the road will occur almost unhindered.

When regular freight transportation is carried out through the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter, the transponder becomes the most acceptable payment method. A special electronic device is attached to the windshield of the vehicle and guarantees instant payment when entering the highway. Transponders can be rented from the expressway operator. Constant use of an electronic means of payment provides preferential travel with a discount of up to twenty percent.

The active route is designed to help make St. Petersburg the largest transport hub in Europe. After the entire line of the Western Diameter Expressway is fully operational, it can be safely nominated as a contender for the official title of a wonder of the world of the twenty-first century.

I think many of my readers have heard about the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter (WHSD). Those who live in St. Petersburg have definitely heard. For those who are not in the know, I’ll explain - the WHSD is a toll highway that finally connected the western parts of the city and the center. The uniqueness of the project is that a very significant part of it passes over water and as much as 55% of the entire length of the road is made up of artificial structures (overpasses, bridges, overpasses and tunnels). The structure is truly unique; no one has ever built roads of this scale in Russia.

The official opening of the WHSD took place over the weekend, and it was only on Tuesday that I managed to escape and ride along the new road.

2. It just so happens that I live in the southeast of the city, so the WHSD won’t be of much use to me.
The closest entrance to the highway to me is located on Blagodatnaya Street. It was to him that I headed.

3. Left - to the south of the city, right - to the north. The southern section was completely opened a couple of years ago, like the northern one, only the most difficult one remained - the central one.

4. Transponder strip. Just a week ago, the WHSD updated the tariffs and now using a transponder is not just profitable, but hellishly profitable - the difference on average is up to 3 times! I don’t have a transponder, so driving through 2 paid zones in cash cost me 100 rubles, and if I drove with a transponder, it would only cost 42.5 rubles. The transponder is free and the only condition for receiving it is an advance payment of 1000 rubles to the account. There is a tariff with a subscription fee (50 rubles per month) and without. For a tariff with a subscription fee, an additional 10% discount is provided.

5. Let's go! Signs are not yet ready for opening everywhere)

6. To the right is the exit towards Dvinskaya Street, and to the left is a newly opened area, where we are heading.

7. A small note - a couple of times I came across strange sections of the road about 200 meters long, where it was shaking. It seems that there is simply no top layer of asphalt there, but if so, this is extremely strange. Such a section is very clearly visible even visually, immediately after the exit.

8. 7 kilometers to Vasilyevsky Island fly by in a flash, even if you drive 80 km/h in the right lane.

9. What landscapes! Wow, what views there are here, especially from above!

10. Pure aesthetic pleasure and the complete perception that you are not in St. Petersburg or Russia, but at least in New York!

11. This road lacks stopovers and observation points. It's a pity that this moment was not foreseen...

12. And here we are on Vaska! On the left you can see the alluvial areas and the residential complexes under construction "Ya-Romantic" and "Magellan"

13. There is only one tunnel in the central section, as well as only one interchange going to Vasilyevsky Island. I drove along it specifically and assessed the traffic pattern. In the form in which it exists now, it is very bad. The throughput flow is extremely small and this is immediately visible. Well, the second interchange in the area of ​​the Shikpersky channel, God knows when they will open...

14. But the problems of Vasilievsky Island are just nonsense in comparison with the exit/entrance to Bogatyrsky Avenue. In the evening the traffic jam on the exit was 2 kilometers long and people stood in it for half an hour. The entire advantage of the WHSD was thus reduced to nothing... And if the traffic jam at the entrance is quite easy to bypass through the first gate, if you have a transponder, then at the exit you will stand like everyone else... Of course, the widespread use of transponders should significantly improve situation, but the fact that one congress to the Primorsky district is extremely insufficient is already obvious.

15. But what a gorgeous cable-stayed bridge they built across the Nevka - simply beautiful!

17. So, I got to Bogatyrsky Prospekt, drove off, turned around and drove back, drove to Vasilyevsky Island and walked there. This is the entrance to the WHSD from the Makarov embankment. Already now, a couple of days after the opening, the traffic is very, very solid. But this is the middle of the day!

18. Makarova embankment is still under construction, pedestrian crossings no, sometimes there are no sidewalks, so you have to cross the road in the wrong place, which the traffic police officer keeps a vigilant eye on, but doesn’t say anything.

General view from the Makarov embankment to the WHSD and the construction of the stadium.

19. The Lakhta Center under construction is quite clearly visible.

20. Well, the “long-term construction of all Rus'” is almost completed.

21. And finally, I took a ride towards the Marine Station and took a couple of photos from there.

22. A little more Lakhta Center. It will be a most monumental building...

23. Perhaps we need to draw a couple of conclusions? The WHSD is incredibly cool and, overall, it should become a huge impact for the development of the city. For residents of the Primorsky district and Vasilievsky Island, this is generally just a breath of fresh air. But there are also disadvantages - immediately after the opening it became clear that something needs to be done with the exit system, especially in the Primorsky district, otherwise this collapse during rush hour will only intensify.

It is still unclear what will happen to the price in the future. The new tariff schedule is wonderful and very convenient for transponder owners, but what will happen when the central section goes out of test operation? Will prices rise significantly? So far there are no answers to these questions.

Well, in general, citizens of St. Petersburg, I congratulate you. The future is coming to us!)