The Small Carpathian Circle project aims to improve road infrastructure in mountainous areas, leading to tourist locations in Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia and Lviv regions.

This was stated by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a meeting dedicated to the implementation of the project with the participation of Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov and Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.

The heads of Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Lviv regional state administrations and community leaders also joined the discussion of the project.

The Small Carpathian Circle is the first step towards the implementation of projects for the development of the Carpathian region within the framework of the President's program Large Construction. It won’t be just the repair and construction of roads, but a whole tourist complex stretching to hundreds of kilometers. In addition to transit, this project has a huge tourist potential," stressed Denys Shmyhal.

According to the Head of Government, this project will facilitate the exchange of tourist flows, reduction of travel time, as well as will significantly affect the socio-economic development and increase tourism potential in the region.

Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov noted that the project would cover a network of roads with a total length of over 640 km. Meanwhile, a certain part of the roads has either been repaired this year or is being repaired now.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of an integrated approach to the project. In addition to repairing existing roads, he said, it is critical to start building new ones.

"Currently, as never before, there is the political will to implement such projects. The Verkhovna Rada expresses readiness to adopt all necessary changes to the budgets so that we can advance with vigour. I assure that such projects as the Small Carpathian Circle will give a positive result for the economy and development of our state," the Head of Government accentuated.

Implementation of the first stage of the Small Carpathian Circle project is planned for next year.

Background

The Small Carpathian Circle is a joint project of the regional authorities of Zakarpattia, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions together with Ukravtodor on the development of roads in the central part of the Ukrainian Carpathians. In December 2019, the project was presented and a relevant memorandum signed. In February 2021, the future state investment project Small Carpathian Circle was introduced as part of the program of the President of Ukraine Large Construction.