Federal highway M2 "Crimea" - federal highway Moscow - Tula - Orel - Kursk - Belgorod - state border with Ukraine (with entrances to the historical and architectural complex "Odintsovo", Tula, Orel, Kursk, Belgorod).

The route is part of the European route E105. The length of the road is about 700 km.

The continuation of the route on the territory of Ukraine is the M-20 highway to Kharkov and M-18 Kharkov - Yalta (the section from the Crimean border to Yalta is considered by the Crimean authorities as regional road 35A-002).

Route

• The M2 highway begins at the intersection of the Warsaw highway and then passes through the territory of the Moscow region east of the cities of Shcherbinka, Podolsk, and Klimovsk. Before the intersection with the road has four lanes in each direction and is fully lit. On the Podolsk bypass, the road has five lanes in each direction. Further, the highway narrows to three lanes in each direction, is fully illuminated, and bypasses Chekhov and Serpukhov near Moscow from the east. At km 83, the road crosses and narrows to two lanes in each direction. In the Moscow region, there is one traffic police post on the highway at the 100th km at the entrance to the bridge named after Podolsk cadets over the Oka River.
• On this section of the road there is a duplicate road (the old Simferopol highway), passing to the west, through the mentioned cities. In them, on address signs of houses and road signs, it is listed as Simferopol Highway.
• Further, the highway runs through the territory of the Tula region and has lighting up to the 156th km. The junction at km 155 intersects with the old M2. From here the main route to Tula continues along the usual two-three-lane road. The highway bypasses Tula from the west and ends at the intersection with the P132 Ryazan - Tula - Kaluga highway in the area of ​​​​the settlements of Pomogalova and Zhirovka.
• After the junction with the highway, the road goes around Tula from the west along a bypass road and crosses the P132 highway. Next, the route passes along the bypass on the western side of Shchekin. The settlements near the border of the Tula region Plavsk and Chern do not have bypass roads, and the M-2 highway passes through them.
• Then the route goes through the territory of the Oryol region, bypassing the city of Mtsensk along the eastern bypass road. Before the entrance to the administrative center of the region there is a traffic police post equipped with a weighing platform. Further the road goes around Oryol on the eastern side. Most of the bypass around Orel has a 60 km/h limit due to nearby large factories and railway station. Here the route crosses the Oka River again. Next, the route follows a bypass on the western side of the village of Kromy. Near the village of Trosna it contains a branch of A142/E 391 to Zheleznogorsk and Kalinovka (further to Kyiv) and turns in a southerly direction. The village of Trosna does not have a bypass road.
• Further, the route goes through the territory of the Kursk region, bypasses the city of Fatezh, bypasses the city of Kursk along a bypass road passing along the outskirts of the city, bypasses the city of Oboyan from the west.
• Then the road goes through the territory of the Belgorod region in a south-eastern direction, east of the city of Stroitel, bypasses Belgorod along a bypass road from the west and then goes south-west through Streletskoye and ends as M2 on the state border with Ukraine.

History of the road

• The route of the road is based on the ancient Crimean Highway. The section of the Moscow - Kharkov road was built in 1840-60. The road was completely reconstructed in 1946-50, receiving an asphalt concrete surface. The route Moscow - Kharkov - Simferopol in Soviet times until the mid-1980s was number 4.
• After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the road was divided into two parts belonging to different jurisdictions. The Russian section of the road from Moscow to the border with Ukraine received its current name and number. The economic and strategic importance of the road has decreased, traffic flow has decreased, which also affected the pace of its further reconstruction. Thus, during the 2000s, a small (12 km) section was reconstructed from the 155 km interchange to the intersection with the P132 highway, which was opened in the late 2000s. In March 2012, the authorities of the Tula region announced their intention to seek further construction and development of the highway.
• In 2014, the highway from the border with the Moscow region to the turn to Tula was almost completely repaired with lighting installed throughout the entire section. Also in 2014, the bypass of the city of Oryol was reconstructed with a fragmentary arrangement of additional lanes (at exits and interchanges) and lighting on them. Traffic lights were also installed at some junctions.
• At the end of 2015, a major overhaul of the road section 603-620 km was completed (Belgorod region, interchange to Rakitnoye - turn to Verkhopenye). The roadway was widened to 4 lanes. A set of works was carried out to develop roadside infrastructure.
• In 2017, work began on the section from 83 km to 95 km. The road will be widened to six lanes, with lighting installed. The repairs should be completed by November 2018, after which similar work will begin from km 95 to km 108.

Federal highway M2 “Crimea” (Simferopol highway) is a federal highway.

Moscow - Tula - Orel - Kursk - Belgorod - state border with Ukraine. It is part of the European route E 105.

The original version of the road as a route was put into operation in 1950.

On the territory of Ukraine, the road continues and goes through Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, and ends in Simferopol or Sevastopol.

Typically, the route is used by vacationers from Moscow and other cities to get to South Bank Crimea.

The length of the highway is 720 kilometers.
The width of the M-2 "Crimea" highway is 8-10 meters.

It passes through the territory of the Moscow, Tula, Oryol, Kursk and Belgorod regions.

The Crimea highway has detours major cities: Tula (48 km), Mtsensk (24 km), Orel (26 km), Kursk (28 km), Belgorod (24 km).

The road passes through hilly, rough terrain. A number of areas require increased driver attention:
- with steep descents and ascents
- with sharp turns.

The road crosses significant rivers: Oka (near the city of Serpukhov), Ulu (near the city of Tula), Plava (near the city of Plavok), Zusha (near the city of Mtsensk), Oka (near the city of Orel), Seim (near the city of Kursk), Seversky Donets (near the city of Belgorod).
Bridges over water barriers more than 50 meters long have a load capacity of 60-80 tons.

Route

The M2 highway begins at the intersection of the Warsaw highway and the Moscow Ring Road, then passes through the territory of the Moscow region east of the cities of Shcherbinka, Podolsk, Klimovsk, Chekhov, Serpukhov in the form of a modern highway without intersections, pedestrian crossings and railway crossings at the same level, at least 2 lanes in each direction with a dividing strip.

Further, the highway goes through the territory of the Tula region, bypasses Tula from the west and, as a highway, ends at the intersection with the P132 Tula-Kaluga highway in the area of ​​​​the settlements Pomogalovo, Zhirovka, turning into a regular 2-3-lane road.

Further, the road goes through the territory of the Oryol region, each bypassing the cities of Mtsensk and Orel on the eastern side and the town along its own bypass road. Kromy from the west. Further at the village. Trosna contains a branch of A142/E 391 to Zheleznogorsk and Kalinovka (then to Kyiv) and turns south.

Further, the road goes through the territory of the Belgorod region in a south-eastern direction, east of the city of Stroitel, bypasses Belgorod along a bypass road from the west and then goes south-west to the state border with Ukraine.

Start
(28 km)
Shcherbinka
(38 km)
Podolsk
(47 km)
Klimovsk
(71 km)
Chekhov
(98 km)
Serpukhov
(181 km)
Tula
(242 km)
Plavsk
(313 km)
Mtsensk
(361 km)
Eagle
(403 km)
Kromy
(518 km)
Kursk
(588 km)
Oboyan
(669 km)
Belgorod
(720 km)
State border with Ukraine.

On the territory of Ukraine, the highway continues as the M-20 highway to Kharkov and M-18 Kharkov - Zaporozhye - Simferopol - Yalta.

The road is completely asphalt covered. Has from 1 to 4 lanes in each direction. The section between Moscow and Tula along the entire route has the status of a motorway, with a permitted speed of 110 km/h. After Tula, the highway turns into a regular road with a speed limit of 90 km/h. All major cities encountered have bypass roads. The usual travel time for the section from Moscow to Kursk is from 6.5 to 10 hours in single-player mode. The section between Moscow and Tula is covered in 2 hours.

Departures from cities

Traffic in the direction from Moscow to Tula

• 22km

The position for exiting in a southerly direction is located immediately after the exit from the Moscow Ring Road. To get there, just get off at the Anino metro station and walk south about 1.8 km. Despite the fact that the Moscow Ring Road is visible from a position with the naked eye, the road metric immediately informs you that you are at 22 km of the M2 highway.

The width of the curb does not allow for problem-free stopping of vehicles. There is simply no place to stop mainline tractors weighing more than 12 tons. The maximum that I myself managed to stop there was Lawn Next with a mass of up to 5 tons. The problem is aggravated by the presence of 4 lanes and flow speeds of about 80-100 km/h. It is optimal to go no closer than Serpukhov.

• 42km

On the section from 22 km M2 to the first turn towards Klimovsk, the road has a backup, which is separated from the main route by a blind bumper. It is not recommended under any circumstances to enter this area of ​​the terrain, as you can get stuck for a very long time. After 42 km there is no more backup.

• 97km Turn to Serpukhov

To avoid finding yourself in a situation where you wait until the last minute and the driver is already turning towards Serpukhov, I would recommend going to the gas station 1 km before the turn into the city. The stop position there is quite adequate, there is an accelerating pocket with a gas station that can be used for stopping.

• 156 km turn to the short bypass of Tula

If the driver is going to Kaluga or to Tula itself, then I would recommend getting off at this position and catching the next car that would go further than Tula. Please note that Tula has two bypass roads. The long route goes around the city in a larger arc and adjoins the short bypass at 195 km of the M2 highway. If you need to get to Tula itself, then you need to take a short road. To get to the short road, at 156 km you need to make a right turn, entering the overpass. A long bypass goes around the city to the east, and adjoins the P-132 road, which connects Kaluga and Ryazan. The R-132 road itself is financed from the regional budget, and the presence of a wide shoulder (as well as a good position) on it is rare. If your driver is going to Kaluga, I do not advise you to delay with him until the last minute - it is better to go to 156 km of the M2 highway

Traffic in the direction from Tula to Orel

• 195 km fork: Tula-Moscow-Kaluga-Ryazan

When driving along a highway from south to north, if the driver takes you to a fork, it is optimal to stop after it in order to cut off those who are traveling in the direction of Kaluga and Ryazan. When driving from North to South, it is optimal to stop opposite the traffic police post - a landmark monument in the form of a motorcycle. In bad conditions weather conditions, or at night - it’s optimal to go out here, since the next position where there will be good lighting and low flow speed will be only at 357 km of the M2 highway

• 232 km fork: M2-M4

In the interval between the villages of Lopatkovo and Lukino there is a branch going to the M4. If you don’t want to study exits to the M4, you can use this option (theoretically). In the very place where the fork is located, the position is so-so. It is better to walk 700 meters to Lukino. Immediately after the start of the settlement, there will be a convenient pocket on the right in the form of a hitchhiking stop. This is your position. In Lopatkovo itself, when moving from Moscow to the south, on the right side there will be a good cafe, both in terms of the number of dishes and prices. The only drawback is that the number of tables is not large, and there is a risk that all the seats will be occupied.

• 244 km Plavsk

If the driver is going to this city, I would strongly recommend not delaying it until the last minute, because the city is built in a hilly area and has a long distance. When driving from north to south, there are no hitchhiking positions at all. When moving from south to north, there are “ersatz positions” located on the rise. It’s optimal to get out somewhere before the city. Not a very bad position in front of the city (when moving from north to south) - near the Mound of Glory.

• 284 km Chern

The city has an even greater extent than the previous Plavsk, but the terrain is not so hilly, and positions meet in both directions. There is a "Pyaterochka" type store (visible from the highway).

• 293 km tavern

In the village of Medvezhka there is a cafe "Tula-50". Which has the widest selection of dishes on the M2 highway and quite reasonable prices. Opening hours from 9 to 22.00 (information regarding operating hours may be out of date). If your driver is there for the first time, then do not advise him to drive up to the cafe itself, especially in the off-season. There is no asphalt near the establishment, and after rain the area turns into a swamp.

• 305 km tavern

Immediately after Mtsensk (when driving from South to North) on the right side of the road there will be another good cafe, but a lower rank than 293 km. Its plus is round-the-clock operation. When driving from north to south, the position near the turn to Mtsensk will be worse than when driving from South to North.

• 354 km traffic police post

If your driver is heading to the city of Orel, then he recommended getting off here and catching the car 30 meters from the traffic police post - stopping is prohibited. The flow in that place moves very slowly, and drivers have enough time to “study” you. If the stopped driver goes to one of these places: Voronezh, Lipetsk, Novosil, Bryansk and any other place - shorter than the bypass of the city of Orel, then it is better to refuse the trip. The bypass itself is 27 km long and must be passed strictly in one car. They are not often found at the bypass position itself.

Traffic in the direction from Orel to Kursk

• 381 km end of the Oryol bypass

When moving from north to south, walk 700 meters south to the nearest gas station - the position there is almost ideal, except that part of the traffic will be scared away by the yellow stripe on the right. In the summer of 2017, a continuous barrier was installed in front of the cafe, and the area near the catering points became unsuitable for stopping anyone. However, when driving from south to north, if your previous driver was traveling to the city of Orel or, for example, Bryansk, and offered to drop you off near a cafe near the city, do not agree, because “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The flow of traffic that goes to Oryol will get in the way, and prevent the eyes of those driving past the city from observing you. If you stop right next to a cafe, there is a risk of getting stuck for a long time. It’s optimal to walk north 1.7 km to the place where the bypass begins to bifurcate; the road has a slight downward slope, and the hike will not be difficult. In this case, the flow heading to the city of Orel will no longer be “underfoot.”

• 436 km fork M2-Zheleznogorsk

If your driver is traveling to Zheleznogorsk, then you have 3 options. The first and easiest is to get off in the village of Zhernovets. In the village itself there is both a hitchhiking position and a hotel (the position is located right next to the hotel). The second is to get off right at the fork to Zheleznogorsk. Afterwards you will have to walk 1 km to the end of the climb. There the position is almost suitable for hitchhiking, except that there is a slight slope of the terrain, which can scare off some loaded cars. “Small” is about 6 degrees (estimated by eye), but keep in mind that at night the rise is not illuminated. The problem is aggravated by the fact that before the turn to Zheleznogorsk there is a descent on which cars accelerate to significant speeds, and at the end of the ascent they will no longer stop and will not be happy to pick you up. Therefore, in general, the position is suitable for hitchhiking with a score of 3 out of 5. The third option is to walk 3.5 km from the turn to Zheleznogorsk to the village of Trosna; in the village of Trosna itself there is lighting.

If the driver offers to drop you off a little further than the village of Zhernovets, in the village of Nizhnee Mukhanovo (which will be 7 km closer to the fork) - then do not agree! Nizhnee Mukhanovo is located in a hilly area, and you will have to stop on the rise, which will make it difficult for anyone to stop

• 440 km Trosna

When driving from south to north, at the end of the village, just after the last pedestrian crossing, there is an ideal position to stop everything possible, it is illuminated at night. When moving from north to south, the position will be immediately after turning left, after entering the village.

• 480 km bypass of the village of Fatezh

The terrain is hilly and there is a bumper on each side of the road, which makes hitchhiking difficult. When moving in any direction, it is highly recommended not to enter the bypass section, due to the very small number of positions.

• 516 km traffic police post at the entrance to Kursk

If you and the driver need to go to Kursk, then the best place to get off is not here, but after 6 km, at the place where the bypass road crosses the street. 50 years of October, since the final stop of the route transport is located on the bypass road.

When driving from South to North, the optimal place for hitchhiking for any type of transport is 1.2 km from the post; you will see a bus stop and a convenient stop pocket on the right side.

At night this area is not illuminated, it is best to stop either 300 meters earlier - there is light from the gas station. But keep in mind that the terrain in this place is such that when a mainline tractor stops, it will block part of the passing lane with its body, which will certainly scare off heavy truck drivers. Also, after 2 km in the direction of travel there will be the village of V. Medveditsa in which the road is completely electrified, and there are positions there

3,8 (136 votes) M-2

Highway M-2 “Crimea” (Simferopol highway)- a federal road in Russia. It starts in Moscow, passes through the cities of Tula, Orel, Kursk, Belgorod and ends at the state border with Ukraine at the Nekhoteevka checkpoint. Continues through the territory of Ukraine under the number M-20. It is part of the European route E 105.

The total length is 720 km.

The stationary traffic police post is located in the village of Inshinsky in the Leninsky district of the Tula region at 192 km of the highway.

The road is popular among tourists who want to relax in the summer on the Black Sea coast. For this reason, during the holiday season, the traffic on the highway increases greatly. The infrastructure is well developed. There are significant queues at the Nekhoteevka checkpoint in the summer.

When traveling behind the wheel, you need to make rest stops. Many drivers neglect this rule, often falling asleep at the wheel and causing accidents.

Along the way, the route crosses many bridges over rivers. Part of the road passes through hilly terrain, there are steep descents, ascents and sharp turns.

The cities: Tula, Mtsensk, Orel, Kursk and Belgorod have bypass roads, which it is advisable to use to avoid driving through an unfamiliar city.

Number of lanes

For 8 km from the M-4 highway there are 8 lanes, then along the entire length the road has 4 lanes, two in each direction.

State

The road is in good condition: the road surface is smooth, with slight ruts in some sections.

Gas stations

79 km — Tatneft (to/from Moscow)

82 km - Lukoil (to/from Moscow)

89 km - Shell (to Moscow)

94 km — Gazpromneft (to/from Moscow)

142 km - Lukoil (to/from Moscow, cafe (right and left side))

170 km – Shell (from Moscow)

195 km - Lukoil (to Moscow)

231 km - Lukoil (to Moscow)

540 km - Lukoil (from Moscow)

687 km - Lukoil (to Moscow)

702 km - Lukoil (to Moscow)

Attractions

Tula - Kremlin (XVI century), Annunciation Church (1692), Assumption and Epiphany Cathedrals, All Saints Cathedral (1776- 1800), Tula State Museum of Weapons, Tula Samovars Museum, Tula Gingerbread Museum, Leo Tolstoy House-Museum Yasnaya Polyana, central park culture and recreation named after P.P. Belousova;

Orel - Oryol Regional Museum of Local Lore (1897), M. M. Bakhtin Museum, I. S. Turgenev Museum, City Park of Culture and Leisure (1822);

Belgorod - Belgorod State Historical and Archaeological Museum (1924), Belgorod State Art Museum (1983), Museum-Diorama “Battle of Kursk. Belgorod direction", Preobrazhensky Cathedral(1813), Assumption-Nicholas Cathedral (1709), Smolensk Cathedral (1727), Intercession Church (1791).

The M2 highway on the section from Moscow to Serpukhov is a modern highway without pedestrian crossings, intersections and level crossings. Here the road has two lanes in each direction and is equipped with a dividing strip (from 21 kilometers).

The road surface of the section of the M2 highway from Moscow to Serpukhov is not reproachable and is repaired quite often. Traffic jams are a natural phenomenon near our capital and in it; here you can’t live without them. You can take detours, but here, as they say, it depends on your luck.

The only thing I can recommend is to drive up to Moscow late at night and leave it in the morning, preferably not on weekends. There are more than enough cameras, radars and traffic police patrol cars on the section of the road from Moscow to Serpukhov.

Professional medical assistance can be provided at 36, 51.74 kilometers of the road. Roadside service on this section of the M2 highway is excellently developed. Near the road there are cafes and restaurants, hotels and shops, gas stations, service stations and tire shops.

Road M2, route Serpukhov - Tula

From Serpukhov to Tula you need to drive 91 kilometers along the M2 “Crimea” highway. The road surface on this section is also quite good, although in the Tula region the road will already have one lane for each direction. A dividing strip has been installed up to 130 kilometers of the M2 highway. The section of road from 123 to 156 kilometers requires reconstruction (they promise to repair it in 2013).

At the moment, the most difficult part of the route is the bridge over the Oka River. This fall, repairs began here and the capacity of the route was reduced accordingly. It is in this place that traffic jams often accumulate now, which on weekends stretch up to 7-10 kilometers.

A detour around this section of the route is not rational due to the fact that the nearest bridge over the Oka River is not very close. The best way to avoid traffic jams is to cross the bridge at night. One good thing is that they promise to finish the renovation by the new year. Further, a traffic jam may lie in wait on the Tula bypass road, and many advise driving through the city (you can save time, and at the same time buy gingerbread).

You enter the city and follow the signs to Kaluzhskoe Highway and again to the M2 highway. In the opposite direction, you should enter Tula from the Kaluga Highway and return to the road to Moscow from the Moskovskoye Highway. Lighting is being actively installed along the entire length of the road (including interchanges) in the Tula region.

Drivers need to pay special attention to some sections of the M2 highway from Serpukhov to Tula, namely at the 136th kilometer, a sharp turn and at 137, 138, 140, 143, 147, 153, 163,173 kilometers, steep descents and ascents.

Medical care can only be obtained in large populated areas or at 167 and 190 kilometers of the road. There are a lot of traffic police officers on this section of the highway, as well as cameras and radars. There is a stationary post at 170 kilometers of the road.

In the Tula region, the traffic police jealously monitors the intersection of solid lines. You can often find a “no overtaking” sign on the side of the road on a stick dug into the ground, next to it there is a broken marking line, and further in the bushes the crew is in full readiness to grab the offender. The sign is displayed in dangerous places roads, but why the line is not continuous is a big question.

Be vigilant and do not violate traffic rules. Roadside service on this section of the M2 highway is not poorly developed. There will be no problems either with gas station or with places where you can eat or spend the night.

Route Moscow - Crimea, route Tula - Orel

From Tula to Orel you need to cover 190 kilometers along the M2 highway. In the Oryol region, the roads are also narrow, but with good road surface and many turns onto secondary roads. Under no circumstances overtake in the turning lane; chances are very high that you will encounter a traffic police crew standing after the intersection.

In addition, you should not overtake where there are prohibiting signs. The favorite place for traffic police officers to catch violators is 30 kilometers from Orel, where new asphalt has been laid, there are no markings and there is a sign prohibiting overtaking.

In addition, many note that traffic police crews can follow you for a long time, waiting for you to break the rules. In general, traffic police posts are located at 204, 293, 304, 333, kilometers of the M2 highway. There are medical aid stations at 210, 245, 248, 329, 365 kilometers of the road.

You should pay attention at the 268th kilometer of the road, where there is a sharp turn. This year, massive repairs and reconstruction have been carried out on the section of the road from Tula to Orel; an overpass is being built across the railway tracks in the area of ​​​​the city of Plavsk (261 kilometers). A common disease of the M2 highway can be called deep, unguarded and very shabby shoulders.

Although the roads are being repaired, the roadside is rarely patched; the Tula and Oryol regions are no exception. Be careful when pulling onto the side of the road, especially at night. As for places to stay overnight and rest, they can also be found near this section of the M2 highway. There will be no problems with catering outlets and gas stations, although they are found here a little less often than, say, in the Moscow region.

Route Moscow - Simferopol, route Orel - Kursk

From Orel to Kursk you need to travel 160 kilometers. In the Oryol region the road surface is not bad, but in the Kursk region it is the worst part of the M2 highway in terms of road surface. Here the road is narrow, heavily rutted, with bumps and completely dead sides.

Overtaking on this section of the road is not easy. Many people call this part of the M2 highway “a trail with all sorts of defects.” However, this summer the road in the Kursk region was actively repaired, in some places in decent pieces, in others patching holes. The width of the M2 highway has not changed, but the roadsides have been straightened and widened in some places.

The bridge on the Kursk bypass is currently being actively repaired (there can be a traffic jam here; many people drive through the city to avoid it). In the Kursk region, it is not recommended to exceed the speed limit, since traffic police inspectors are very vigilant in this regard. Permanent posts can be found at 388, 407, 408,466 kilometers of the M2 highway.

Also seen in the Kursk region a large number of radars on tripods. Medical assistance can be found at 388, 437,516 kilometers of the M2 highway. Roadside service on the section of the route between Orel and Kursk is not poorly developed. There are hotels and cafes, shops and gas stations.

Highway M2, route Kursk - Belgorod

From Kursk to Belgorod the journey will take 140 kilometers. In the Kursk region, as mentioned above, the roads are mostly narrow, with high rutting, with pothole repairs and poor shoulders. Road services are trying to improve this, but every year this section of the highway still remains the most trafficked.

A particular road disgrace is located for about 30 kilometers, in the place where the M2 highway goes from the village of Medvenka to the city of Oboyan. The plans include repairs and reconstruction of these sections of the road, but all this will last until 2015.

The best and highest quality road surface is noted in the Belgorod region. In some places, the M2 highway has two lanes in one direction. In the Belgorod region, the traffic police also jealously monitor compliance with the speed limit. Stationary posts can be found at 568, 588,633 kilometers of the M2 highway.

Qualified medical care can be obtained at 590, 650, and 680 kilometers. Close to the M2 highway, there are plenty of places for snacks and overnight stays on this stretch. There are shops and gas stations.

Highway M2, section Belgorod - border with Ukraine

From Belgorod to Nekhoteevka (to the border with Ukraine) you need to drive 38 kilometers. The M2 highway here is simply gorgeous, it’s a pleasure to drive: new asphalt and two lanes in each direction. There is a first aid station at kilometer 690 of the road. A traffic jam may lie in wait near Nekhoteevka, which is associated with the passage of the border post and customs.

In the summer there are decent queues, as an option you can go through customs early in the morning or go to one of the nearest customs posts in Shebekino or Gaivoron. The downside of the Gaivoronsky customs point is a piece of bad road (20 kilometers) just across the border through the territory of Ukraine. There shouldn’t be any difficulties getting through the border and customs, especially if you prepare in advance.

Namely: collect the necessary package of documents, arrive on a weekday (preferably late at night). Remember, no one has the right to demand documents from you that are not included in the list of required documents for crossing the border.

Another piece of advice: on the territory of Ukraine, never give your documents to traffic police inspectors (State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of Ukraine), you are not obliged to do this (you can show them through glass). When crossing the border during daylight hours, turn off your low beam headlights; this is how AIM fighters often identify foreigners.

Regarding the infrastructure of the M2 highway in the section from Belgorod to the border with Ukraine, it is well developed. There are hotels, cafes, gas stations and shops. There are also plenty of offices that provide assistance with customs clearance and paperwork. Experienced car travelers categorically do not recommend refueling at the Lukoilovskaya gas station in front of Nekhoteevka. It is better to use gas stations in the Oktyabrsky area.

They also plan to make the M2 Crimea highway a toll highway, but toll sections will appear no earlier than 2015. In conclusion, I want to say, do not break the traffic rules, stop for the night and lunch on time.

And as always, I ask you to leave comments about the state of the M2 highway, since only together we can make the information the most relevant and truthful.