MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Earlier today, the Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Paul Smith, signed a grant agreement of $300,000 on behalf of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency with Nikolai Ivankov, Vice Governor of Novgorod Oblast. The funds will finance a feasibility study for the construction of the Novgorod Toll Road.

The TDA grant to Novgorod Oblast was signed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. A reception followed on the occasion of the Annual Commercial Service Russia Conference. In addition, Stephan Wasylko, Senior Commercial Officer; commercial officers from all U.S. diplomatic posts in Russia; Jennifer Snyder, TDA Country Manager for Russia; and Philip Wegh, Operations Director for Novtrans, Inc., the U.S. contractor that will conduct the study, also attended the signing ceremony.

The feasibility study will examine the potential to build and operate a toll road through the Novgorod region. The current road across the region, the M10 federal highway, is the main traffic artery for cars and truck cargo moving from Finland and St. Petersburg toward Moscow. This highway requires significant improvements in order to meet growing traffic demands.

The planned toll offers an alternative route, 35 kilometers shorter, which will save an average transit time of 60 minutes. If constructed, the road will consist of a four lane divided highway running 141 kilometers, and connect to the M10 highway. It will provide motorists with a safer route utilizing a limited access highway, with service plazas, proper lighting and well-marked exits. The total project is anticipated to cost $270-300 million.

Total U.S. exports for this project are anticipated to be about $60 million. Potential U.S. exports include engineering services, earth moving, energy, toll plaza, highway maintenance, road paving and information technology equipment.

Novtrans, a small U.S. company located in Ardmore, PA, is the prime contractor on the feasibility study. Other U.S. companies involved in the project include Hanscomb Engineering, Parsons, and Vollmer Associates.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation by helping U.S. companies pursue business opportunities in developing and middle income countries. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various forms of technical assistance, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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