On September 12, 2026, reconstruction of the tram tracks on Chkalov Street began in the Kanavinsky District of Nizhny Novgorod. The contractor is LLC "Ekologicheskiye Proyekty" — an organization carrying out a large-scale upgrade of the city's tram infrastructure under a concession agreement. Completion of the main construction and installation work is scheduled for 2027.[1][2]

Historical context

The section of Chkalov Street holds special significance in the history of urban transport: tram tracks appeared here in 1896 — the year tram service was launched in Nizhny Novgorod. At that time the street was known as Vystavochnoye Highway (Exhibition Highway): it was built to connect the city with the site of the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition, and the city's first electric railway ran along it.[2]

Scope and content of the works

As part of the reconstruction, the contractor will replace 1.6 km of rails on a single-track basis. In addition to replacing the rail surface, the project provides for a full range of works to upgrade the overhead contact network.[1][3]

Traffic restrictions

From September 10, 2026, partial traffic restrictions have been introduced on the section of Chkalov Street between Prokofyev Street and Oktyabrskoy Revolyutsii Street (October Revolution Street): in connection with the construction of monolithic sections of the tram tracks, the carriageway has been narrowed to one lane in each direction. The city administration has advised drivers to familiarise themselves with the diversion route in advance and to follow the instructions of temporary road signs.[4][5]

Due to the start of reconstruction works, two tram routes have been temporarily rerouted. Trams No. 27 and No. 417A, which previously ran through this section, have been cut back to Komsomolskaya Square as of September 12. At the time work began, both routes ran along Chkalov Street.[5][1] The revised permanent tram schedules had not been published by that point.[5]

Sources

  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Tram routes No. 27 and No. 417A to be cut back due to track repairs on Chkalov Street (archive)
  2. Vremya N — Reconstruction of tram tracks on Chkalov Street gets underway in Nizhny Novgorod
  3. GTRK "Nizhny Novgorod" (Vesti) — Tram routes No. 27 and No. 417A to be cut back from September 12 due to track repairs on Chkalov Street
  4. Vremya N — Traffic pattern on Chkalov Street in Nizhny Novgorod to change due to tram track construction
  5. GIPERNN — Chkalov Street to be partially closed for tram track repairs from September 10