Yakutsk's chaotic construction site leaves pedestrians stranded and frustrated

A major construction site in Yakutsk has left pedestrians struggling to navigate. RIK Avtodor JSC, the contractor, has scattered paving stones and materials across the area, blocking walkways at the intersection of Khabarova, Yaroslavskogo, and Yefimova streets. The company is repairing roads in the city. Its projects in the area alone cost over 830 million rubles, with another 1 billion rubles allocated for work on 50 Let Sovetskoy Armii Street. Despite this, the site remains disorganised, with no clear paths for pedestrians.

New Urban Improvement Rules introduced in 2025 demand temporary fencing, pedestrian walkways, emergency lighting, and detour signs at all excavation sites. RIK Avtodor JSC has ignored these requirements, even though it has had more than a year to adapt. Locals have taken matters into their own hands, creating a rough path through the sand and loose tiles to move around the obstruction.

This is not the first time the contractor has faced criticism. Blogger Dmitry Mikhailov previously exposed three major safety violations at another RIK Avtodor site, showing a pattern of neglect for pedestrian access. The construction zone remains hazardous and poorly managed. Pedestrians continue to face difficulties due to the lack of proper walkways and signage. The contractor’s failure to follow the new regulations has worsened the situation for residents and passersby.