Slow processing of trucks by Russian customs has led to queues of lorries stretching up to 50 kilometres on Finnish highways leading to the border. The lines are seen as major traffic safety hazards.
The issue of truck backlogs was discussed on Monday at a meeting of a coordination group for cross-burder transport. Under the proposal, the areas would be ready for use in the summer of 2008 at the earliest. The cost is estimated at about EUR 23 million.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications writes that a plan is to be drawn up for long-distance queuing. Such an arrangement would allow vehicles to book a specific spot in a queue without having to wait on a roadside. Limits are also to be set on the lengths of lorry queues, and specific guidelines are to be drawn up on what measures to take in various situations.
Services for truck drivers are also to be upgraded. Drivers are to be given up-to-date information, and improved litter disposal services and toilet facilities. A waiting system is to be introduced in the spring of next year.
In the long term, the Ministry of Transport and Communications hopes to arrange for trucks to be transported across the border on trains. Finnish customs authorities are also promoting the use of electronic customs clearance on the Finnish-Russian border as a pilot project of the European Union.
The ministry also says that road improvement projects will be discussed at an upcoming ministerial meeting between Finland and Russia. Issues include proposals to add more lanes to roads linking border stations with each other, as well as improvements in connections between the border stations and the Russian interior.
The Finnish-Russian Trade Commission will discuss problems with cross-border transport at a meeting scheduled for December 19 in Moscow.