За месяц дорожники Иркутска должны убрать все ямы вдоль трамвайных путей

Road workers in the regional center have been tasked with repairing areas along tram tracks. The tracks have long been a major pain point for Irkutsk drivers. Karina Fokirova investigated whether it's possible to untangle the web of cracks. For many Irkutsk drivers, these cracks have become commonplace. This is what the asphalt along the tram tracks looks like. In the regional center, the tracks stretch for 22 kilometers. And many of them look like this. A trip costs the average driver a pretty penny. EKATERINA PATRAKOVA, Irkutsk resident: A friend of mine who was driving by had a similar situation: a wheel fell off, and that happened before. It happened right on the tram tracks. I think it cost him about 50,000 rubles, because there were struts and brake discs involved—that was a pretty penny, so to speak. Repairs can reduce these costs. Following another city inspection, road workers were instructed to remove all potholes along the tram tracks within a month. In some places, the rails had sunk by 2-3 centimeters. SERGEY GAVRIN, Deputy Mayor, Chairman of the City Development Committee: At the intersection from Karl Marx to Lenin Street, drivers passing by see that the tram tracks are actually sinking. This is because our tram tracks are built on a clay base. We will try to remove all this clay. We will replace the tram track base, as some of the foundations need replacing. After that, we will lay new asphalt. Three main factors contribute to the deterioration of these sections of the road. First, vibrations from tram cars loosen the pavement or asphalt. The surface loses its density and begins to crumble. To combat the source of this problem, we have come up with an option: covering everything with rubber pads. However, this doesn't work everywhere. KARINA FOKIROVA, Correspondent: One of these underrail pads isn't located on the tram tracks, but just three meters away—on the curb. It seems to have stopped working, and on top of that, there's a huge bolt that could obstruct traffic. Secondly, metal and asphalt have different densities. This means they react differently to temperature. For example, in the summer heat, microcracks form in the joints, allowing water to seep in. And in winter, this water freezes, literally tearing the joint apart. Therefore, according to drivers, the pavement doesn't last more than a year. OLESYA DIDENKO, Driver: It feels like we're riding in a horse-drawn carriage; the roads leave much to be desired, honestly. We start saving up for suspension at the beginning of the year. We save up—and then start over again. And then again. And it all goes on and on and on. The third reason is the drivers themselves. Heavy vehicle traffic on tram tracks increases pressure on these sections. So the best solution is to isolate the electric transit lines entirely. However, this requires a comprehensive reconstruction. This is difficult to accomplish because most of the tracks are located in the historic center. Roads there can't be widened, and cultural heritage sites can't be relocated. Some Irkutsk residents consider the tram a vestige of Irkutsk. But in today's reality, electric transit has found itself in an advantageous position. And it's not just a matter of fuel. It's simple math. The maximum capacity of one tram is about five people. Buses and trolleybuses can carry between 50 and 100, depending on the model. And a tram car can hold up to 150 people.