The Republic of Karelia is a transit territory. Key transportation routes run through its territory, connecting industrially developed parts of Russia with the non-freezing northern port of Murmansk, and through Finland – with European countries. The White-Baltic Sea Canal connecting the White Sea and the Baltic Sea is situated on the territory of the Republic.

Karelia has almost all kinds of transport: railroad, automobile, internal water and maritime, air transport and pipelines. The major part of logistic services falls for railroads and automobile transport, lesser – for water and air transport.

Development of transportation complex in Karelia is first of all tied with implementation of projects of international transportation corridors (“Archangelsky” and “Karelian”), which will become parts of promising Euro-Asian sub-latitude highway “BELKOMUR” (the White Sea – the Republic of Komi – the Urals).

The Republic of Karelia has a developed transportation network. Key automobile and water routes, railroads run through its territory, connecting the Republic with the East and the center of Russia.

Automobile roads

The road network of the Republic of Karelia develops due to the growing needs in motor trucking. All motor roads providing access to large cities and transportation junctions as well as ensuring planned development of transport corridors integrated in the single Euro-Asian transportation network including sea ports constitute a priority.

The total length of automobile roads today is 12453,2 km, including: general purpose roads 7869,2 km and departmental – 4594 km. Of the total length of roads, hard surface roads are 9347,8 km long. The road of federal significance is “Kola” (Saint-Petersburg via Lodeinoye Pole to Murmansk M-18) and from St. Petersburg via Priozersk and Sortavala to Petrozavodsk with total length of 1073,7 km.

Railroads

Railroad transport is the most important factor of economic development of the Republic taking up to 90% of cargo transportation. The length of railways of the Republic accounts for 2,100 km. Railroads to Murmansk, Saint-Petersburg and Helsinki go through the Republic of Karelia.

The Government of the Republic of Karelia enters into annual agreements with “Russian Railways” company in the sphere of railroad transportation. The policy of the company on modernizing the infrastructure of railways of Karelia is being consistently implemented during a number of years. That will create a possibility to increase transit of cargo from eastern regions of Russia to Scandinavian countries, also to fasten shipment of cargo of Karelian enterprises, and to master new production sites. While implementing the Strategy of Development of Railroad Transport in Russia up to 2030, Oktyabrskaya Railway will develop its infrastructure. In particular, second railway track is planned to be built in Karelia in order to modernize the port of Murmansk so that trains could go in both directions without any delays

To increase the transit cargo flow to Scandinavian countries, the international railroad border check-points will be reconstructed.

Airports

There are 3 airports, 3 airfields, 11 landing areas and a heliport in the Republic. Petrozavodsk international airport is among eight priority airports of the North-West region of Russia.

Extension of relations of the Republic with countries of Northern and Western Europe in the spheres of industry, tourism and culture has prompted development of air transport in the region, first of all, Petrozavodsk airport. At present, the airport complex is undergoing reconstruction and modernization.

Passenger flights are conducted to Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. In the future, air connections to Solovki, Kostomuksha, Pudozh, and Helsinki will be resumed.

Navigation and Water Transport

Lakes, rivers and canals comprise a significant transportation network of the Republic of Karelia, which provides an opportunity to reach: the White Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and ocean. There are two main transportation routes of navigation: the White Sea – the Baltic Sea water route, and the river Volga – the Baltic Sea. All together, the water routes make it possible to sail from Saint-Petersburg (Baltic Sea) through Ladoga and Onega Lakes to the White Sea, to the city of Belomorsk, and farther – to the Barents Sea, or, as an option, to the South, to the Black Sea.

The building of commercial sea port in the city of Belomorsk was started in 2008. By its completion it will be capable to accept vessels up to 30,000 tons displacement. The construction of the new deep-water seaport is determined by creation of transport corridors “North – South” and “North–West – the Urals – China”, and by the necessity to increase the volume of cargo transportation via the Northern sea route. Thus, the construction of the modern terminal will make Belomorsk sea port an integral part of the international transportation chain.

The project is included in the Federal Target Program “Development of Russian Transport System” (2010-2015) (sub-program “Water transport”), as well as in the RF Transport Strategy for the period till 2030, FTP “Rosgranitsa”/Russian Border (2011-2016).

The initiator and strategic investor of the project is the JSC “Belomorsk Port”, established especially for the implementation of the investment project. The total value of the project is 16,7 billion rubles. Period of realization is 2012-2014.

Border and Customs Infrastructure

Advanced border and customs infrastructure is a key factor for successful external economic activity and international cooperation. The length of Karelian part of Russian-Finnish border is 798.3 km (which is more than 60% of its total length).

The Karelian Customs of the North-West Customs Board functions in the Republic, including 14 customs stations (of which 5 are placed directly at check points). There are 3 international automobile check points, 2 railway check points and 2 automobile check points of simplified admittance on the border.

Also there is “Petrozavodsk” international air check point, functioning on the territory of Karelia. 

Close to international automobile check-point “Vyartsilya” there is a customs-logistics terminal. Similar terminals are going to be opened near three other check-points.

The amount of cargo flow on the Karelian part of the border varies due to external economic situation and reaches 7-8 million tons per year. Passenger flow continues to grow and in 2010 exceeded 1.5 million people.

According to the Federal Agency on Developing the State Border of the Russian Federation, within the framework of the Federal Target Program “State Border of the Russian Federation (2012-2017)” it is planned to reconstruct practically all of the existing international border check-points and to build new ones – an international automobile check-point “Syvyaoro” and marine check-point “Belomorsk”.