The SCHMSD is entering a new stage: the construction of a bridge across the Neva River has begun.

On June 5, 2026, within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a solemn ceremony was held to mark the start of construction of stage 4.1 of the Latitudinal High-Speed Highway (LMS). The central event of the ceremony was the laying of a symbolic memorial stone at the site of the future bridge crossing over the Neva River, the key and most technically complex object of the entire megaproject.

The event was attended by Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg, Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB BANK, and Alexey Krapivin, General Director of NPS Group of Companies.

"The SCHMSD with the bridge in its composition is a strategic project that will change the city's transport system, improve accessibility to residential areas and industrial zones, stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life of Petersburgers. The drawbridge across the Neva River in the alignment of Faience and Ash Streets is a modern, complex object in terms of engineering and architecture. It will become the second drawbridge in the last forty years to be built in the Northern Capital at the same time as the Bolshoy Smolensky Bridge. The new ferry will help to increase the comfort of movement in the metropolis by reducing travel time, ensure continuous high-speed traffic and connect various areas of the city, and redirect transit flows eastward," said Alexander Beglov.

Stage 4.1 is the most significant in the composition of the CMMSD. The section will run from the intersection with Glukhoozerskoe Highway and 2nd Luch Street, then along the northern railway semicircle to the interchange with Soyuzny Prospekt. The length of the stage will be 3.4 km on the right and 4.5 km on the left. The length of the bridge over the river The Neva River with a single–winged swing-out span is 462.9 meters without taking into account approaches, and the speed of reducing and spreading the bridge is about two minutes.

"This bridge – the governor is still thinking about the name – will become one of the most important components of the SCHMSD. This is the main eastern corridor of St. Petersburg high-speed traffic.‑St. Petersburg. It will seriously facilitate traffic in the city, create additional comfort and convenience for St. Petersburg residents. We have just inspected the Bolshoy Smolensky Bridge, and it takes record time. We are told that the bridge will be operational within three years. Therefore, I wish you a good and comfortable job here too. The sooner you build this bridge, the sooner we will start building a new one," Andrei Kostin said.

After commissioning, the SCHMSD bridge will connect the banks of the Neva River between the Alexander Nevsky Bridge and the Volodarsky Bridge and take over part of their traffic load.

"For us to work here in St. Petersburg‑St. Petersburg is a great honor. Working on the Neva River is not easy. We saw this on the Bolshoy Smolensky Bridge. The strong current, the ice drift, the vagaries of the weather – it was a real test of strength. The bridges withstood it. And here, too, we will do our best and use all our skills to ensure that the bridge as part of the CMMSD is built on time and with high quality," said Alexey Krapivin, General Director of JSC NPS Group.

It should be recalled that the construction of the CMMSD in St. Petersburg is carried out within the framework of a concession agreement between the city Government and LLC Latitudinal Highway of the Northern Capital. The general contract for the implementation of stage 4.1 was signed by the concessionaire with JSC Roads and Bridges (part of the National Project Construction Group) On June 2, 2026, the concessionaire received permission for the construction of the stage from Gosstroynadzor on May 29, 2026.

For reference:

The SCHMSD construction project is one of the "Megaprojects of the 21st century" of the program "10 priorities of socio-economic development of St. Petersburg". In accordance with the Master Plan for the Development of St. Petersburg, the SCHMSD with the bridge over the Neva River is one of the main links in the framework of urban highways of high-speed and continuous traffic along with the ring road and the ZSD.