After repair and restoration works on main roads in Azerbaijan, a reduction in road width is observed. These changes hinder drivers from performing certain road maneuvers and increase the risk of accidents on the roads.
Speaking to Modern.az regarding the current situation, transport expert Farhad Eyyubov stated that deviations from the standard should be examined individually as special cases:
“There are places on our intercity roads where deviations from standard dimensions are observed. On some highways, vehicles cannot use the road shoulder. In any case, the dimensions must be adapted to international standards. This should be particularly considered if the road is inter-district or of republican importance.”
The expert noted that the reasons for narrowing can be various:
“Road narrowing occurs in connection with water channels. Or there are places where, due to falling within a residential area, the road shoulder shortens, becoming a sidewalk-road intended only for pedestrian movement. Therefore, efforts are made to ensure that if it is a first-class main road, it does not pass through a residential area. If it does, then inevitably a difference arises at the classification level. In this case, a pedestrian path is designated instead of a road shoulder, as a second-class road.
The situation I mentioned can be observed on the Shamakhi-Gabala section of the newly constructed Baku-Gabala road. Some sections pass through residential areas. In such cases, it is not possible to create a shoulder. The Baku-Gabala road also passes through Vandam settlement. Unfortunately, narrowing has occurred there. I would suggest that main roads should not intersect with residential areas in any way. For example, in Gabala city, the situation is satisfactory. The road is on the outskirts of the city. As for the traffic lane, it remains untouched. Lanes are sections where special attention and standards are applied.”.
Farhad Eyyubov added that if a road is newly constructed, standards are observed:
“For example, roads constructed in Karabakh are dimensioned for maximum speed limits. However, on main roads undergoing restoration, this is sometimes not possible. The reason is the presence of residential areas – houses – in the vicinity. Relevant organizations also strive to consider the residential zones of the population. Residents should not be inconvenienced. Provided that safety conditions are maintained."
Transport expert Yasin Mustafayev told Modern.az that certain changes are currently observed regarding road widths within Baku city:
"It should be noted that this has yielded purposeful results in terms of traffic organization. Before roads were repaired and marked, there were sections where traffic lanes were up to 4 meters wide. Such wide lanes were considered inefficient from a practical point of view and were not conducive to proper traffic organization.
Following the ongoing improvement works, the width of traffic lanes on roads in some areas has been reduced to approximately 3 meters, which fully complies with existing regulatory standards. Specifically, on main and high-speed roads, lane widths are determined to be 2.75–3.75 meters, and on urban roads, they are 3–3.20 (3.25) meters, and these indicators meet the standards.
Precisely for this reason, lane narrowing is being implemented in some places. An additional third lane has been created in road sections that were previously two-lane, and a fourth lane in three-lane roads.
As a result, chaotic traffic has been prevented, and more orderly and safe movement of vehicles within lanes has been ensured. In some streets, the reform has made it possible to establish bicycle lanes,” the expert said.
