Traffic has begun flowing on one section of the long-awaited interchange at the junction of Satpaev Avenue and Bazovaya, Zhibek Zholy and Yesenberlin streets in the administrative center of the East Kazakhstan Region. The first vehicles drove across the new overpass toward Kanysh Satpaev Street, the website infohub.kz reports.
For now, traffic is running in a technical mode and only on one part of the overpass. The decision to open the section was taken in response to residents' appeals and the start of the second school quarter. Accordingly, Nurymbet Saktaganov, akim of the East Kazakhstan Region, ordered that technical traffic be opened on one part of the overpass.
The new interchange is intended to ease the burden on one of the city's busiest sections. Once it is fully commissioned, the traffic situation is expected to improve and travel times for motorists to shorten.
Traffic is currently open in the direction of Kanysh Satpaev Street. The necessary road signs have been installed on this section, and additional marker posts have been placed on the median strip. A speed limit of 40 km/h is in force for drivers. Motorists are asked to be attentive, comply with road signs and follow the temporary traffic pattern.
It is worth noting that First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlybek Nalibaev recently visited the site, where he reviewed the progress of construction and the final stages of work. The roadway still needs expansion joints installed and the storm drainage system completed. These elements are needed to ensure the structure's resilience to temperature swings and to drain rainwater and meltwater effectively.
The required expansion joints are expected to be delivered on November 8. They will be installed alternately on each side of the overpass. Traffic is not expected to be fully closed: during the work, vehicles will be directed along a temporary pattern.
Under the plans, technical traffic on the second part of the overpass — toward Yesenberlin Street — is to open before the end of November. However, the timing may be adjusted depending on weather conditions. Full two-way traffic is tentatively scheduled to begin in early December, after the expansion joints are installed.
One of Ust-Kamenogorsk's key infrastructure projects is thus being phased into operation. Once fully open, the interchange will help streamline traffic on one of the city's busiest sections and make residents' daily journeys more comfortable. Drivers are urged to follow the temporary traffic pattern, pay attention to road signs and observe the speed limit.