The Baikal tract is far from the longest in the Irkutsk region, and even more so in Russia. It connects only one city with several settlements, but has federal significance. About 20 thousand cars pass through it daily.
The reason for such a high status is simple: the end point of the route, the place of its completion is the popular tourist village Listvyanka, located between the rocks and Lake Baikal. This is the shortest way to the deepest lake. In addition, in the middle of a picturesque forest, on both sides of the road there are cottage villages - these are ideal places for those who like to live in the fresh air within a short drive to the city.
History of the Baikal tract
The Baikal tract was laid back in the 18th century, then it had a different name - Zamorsky. The place where the Baikal tract begins - Irkutsk: the road connected the city with the Trans-Baikal Territory, it was possible to use it only in winter, when ice was rising on the lake - the route went further through Listvyanka through the icy expanses of Lake Baikal. They mainly drove mail, travelers and prisoners. In the summer, communication between the regions was carried out by shipping company.
For a long time the road remained country, asphalt appeared here only in the 60s of the last century. It is curious that Americans should be grateful for the appearance of the asphalt road in the region: the region was preparing for a hypothetical visit of an American delegation led by the president to Lake Baikal, which is UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Americans didn’t come, but the residents of the Irkutsk region got an excellent road with a length of 68 kilometers. A trip along the Baikal tract to the lake has become a mandatory attribute of a visit to Irkutsk.
The main settlements along the road
The most populated area is up to 12 km of the Baikal tract: the cottage villages Novorozvodnaya, Molodezhny, Novaya Lisikha are located here. Citizens willingly choose these places: villages are only 10 minutes from the city, while the air is fresh, and nature is as unique as on Lake Baikal itself.
Further along the highway there are villages: Burdakovka, Butyrky, Burduguz, Big River, Angarsk farms, Nikola. The tract ends in Listvyanka near the shores of Lake Baikal.
The Baikal Tract Project: reconstruction
The issue of reconstructing the tract has long been an acute issue: the track is growing every year with new villages and districts, more than 15 thousand people live up to 28 kilometers. At the same time, until recently there were no interchanges, complex intersections, especially at the beginning, made the Baikal tract dangerous. Reconstruction was only a matter of time and funding. The hilly track was full of unexpected turns, in each direction there was only one narrow lane, which made the road dangerous and deadly: dozens of people died here every year.
The Baikal Highway project involved several stages. The first, concerning the busiest part from 8 to 12 km of the highway, began in June 2015. The large-scale project to increase the carriageway was promised to be completed by the road service of the Irkutsk region by the end of October, but a section with a total length of about 9 kilometers was commissioned ahead of schedule. In addition to the reconstructed highway with a length of about 4 kilometers, 2 modern transport interchanges were constructed,
culverts, two viaducts were constructed, and bright lighting was installed. The tract has changed and changed beyond recognition: the roads have become wide and safe thanks to the lighting and dividing strip. The interchanges are carefully thought out: the stripes do not intersect anywhere, the movement is balanced, and the main directions are unloaded.
Planned continuation of the reconstruction of the route
The Baikal Tract project, the reconstruction of which has not been completed, was planned until 2017, so work will still be ongoing up to 39 kilometers. In the near future, the road service of the Irkutsk region is going to deal with a section of the road from 12 to 17 kilometers, the next step will be a section from 17 to 21 kilometers of the Baikal highway. The road will be expanded to four lanes, lighting will also be installed along the route, and two two-level modern interchanges are planned.
Improvement of the Baikal tract is an expensive project. The track runs along the forest, and in order to increase its throughput, it is necessary to carry out geodetic work to clear and prepare the space on both sides of the road.
Baikal tract and M55 highway
The Baikal tract is part of the M55 highway, connecting Irkutsk and Chita for over a thousand kilometers. The road goes around Baikal from the south, crosses Buryatia, the Selenga and Khilok rivers. Thus, this route can be reached in Transbaikalia, bypassing the lake.
The road is very picturesque: mixed forests in the Irkutsk region are replaced by steppes framed by high peaks of the
Tunkinsky valley in Buryatia. Horses graze along the track, stand at home - monuments of Siberian and Buryat architecture. In Kultuk, the southernmost point of Lake Baikal, travelers enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake: the vast expanses of Lake Baikal on the horizon mix with the blue sky, rocks with snowy peaks emphasize the greatness and perfection of the nature of these places.
However, the track is fraught with many dangers for travelers: a narrow and winding road, steep descents and ascents, sections with limited visibility - all this requires maximum concentration and attention from the driver.
The final point of the Baikal tract
Listvyanka village is the final destination to which the Baikal tract leads. Reconstruction has become possible in many respects thanks to this small village, which has become the "tourist Mecca" of Siberia. This route is the shortest way to get to the shore of Lake Baikal. An expressway can deliver to these unique places from Irkutsk in just an hour. In Listvyanka, you can comfortably relax in one of the upscale hotels, try Baikal omul hot and cold smoked, buy souvenirs, relax on the beach.
Rest in Listvyanka
Listvyanka has a number of museums and monuments of architectural heritage: the old wooden church of St. Nicholas, the Nerpinaria, the Baikal Museum, and the astrophysical observatory. Here is the legendary stone shaman, who has become a central figure in the culture of the local population. According to legend, when the naughty daughter of old Baikal Angara (the only river flowing from the lake) decided to escape from the strict father’s protection, he threw a stone after her. Now this stone is located in the place where this river originates, it can be easily seen from one of the many viewing platforms.