The customer for the public discussion of the environmental impact assessment report for the facility "Reconstruction of the M-3 Minsk-Vitebsk Motorway, km 87.950 – km 112.000; km 135.500 – km 162.000" (hereinafter referred to as the Facility) is the Republican Unitary Enterprise of Motor Roads "Vitebskavtodor" (210026, Vitebsk city, Suvorov Street, 16, e-mail: vitavtodor@vitebsk.by, tel/fax +375 (212) 35-85-48).

The purpose of the project development is to bring the parameters of the specified section of the motorway up to Category I standards and to increase the road's load-bearing capacity to the European standard of 11.5 tonnes per axle.

The basis for the project development is the implementation of the goals and objectives of the State Programme for the Development and Maintenance of Motor Roads in the Republic of Belarus for 2017-2020, approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of

The M-3 highway Minsk-Vitebsk runs along the city of Lepel. At the intersection of the highway with the R-15 road (km 153.733), a grade-separated intersection with regulated traffic is provided, as well as acceleration/deceleration lanes and channelized lanes for entering/exiting the city or making a U-turn.

At the intersection of the highway with the H-2800 road (km 154.534), a grade-separated intersection with regulated traffic, bus stops, and an underpass are also provided.

At the intersection of the bypass route with the R-86 Bogushevsk road (km 156.123), a two-level interchange of the "partial cloverleaf" type is provided, with combined left-turn and right-turn ramps. The R-86 road remains at the lower level with the construction of acceleration/deceleration and holding lanes for exits.

At the approach road (left side) to the children's sanatorium in Lepel (km 158.33), a channeled at-grade junction is planned. In accordance with the project and considering the projected traffic intensity beyond the village of Sharkovka, the R-46 road of category II is to be rerouted with the construction of an at-grade roundabout.

The reconstruction of the road will improve its transport and operational parameters, which in turn will directly impact socio-economic development aspects such as the productivity of the road sector, business efficiency, and the population's living standards.

With the improvement of the road's transport and operational indicators, the volume of freight transport will increase, and roadside services will develop, leading to growth in the region's socio-economic indicators. Improved transport conditions will reduce air, soil, and vegetation pollution, thereby enhancing the region's environmental situation.

Potential environmental impacts of the designed road are associated with construction activities (operation of road construction machinery and vehicles during earthworks and road surfacing, transportation of soil, construction materials, fuels and lubricants, and construction workers; mechanical processing of construction materials, minor repairs, painting works) and with operational impacts (functioning of the facility as an engineering structure, impact of mobile sources (road transport).

Impacts related to construction activities are generally temporary. Operational impacts will manifest during the period of operation of the designed facility.

The reconstruction of the M-3 Minsk-Vitebsk highway in sections km 87.950 – km 112.000; km 135.500 – km 162.000 is planned according to Category I standards, with two phases: Phase 1 – km 87.950 – km 112.000; Phase 2 – km 135.500 – km 162.000.
Phase 1 – km 87.950 – km 112.000.
The beginning of the designed section at km 87.950 corresponds to the border of Minsk and Vitebsk regions. The end of the section is at km 112.000 of the corresponding mileage. The total length of the first phase section is 24.05 km.

Phase 2 – km 135.500 – km 162.000 runs along the populated localities of Chernytsa (km 138.0-138.8), Chernoruchye (km 148.6), through the town of Lepel (km 152.665 - 157.892).
The implementation period for the planned activities for the facility is 2021-2023.

The period for public discussion of the Facility is from 15 October 2019 to 14 November 2019 (inclusive). Proposals and comments from the public are accepted throughout the entire period of public discussion.

The environmental impact assessment report for the Facility can be reviewed on the website of the Lepel District Executive Committee lepel.vitebsk-region.gov.by in the "Public Discussions" section, at the Department of Architecture and Construction of the Lepel District Executive Committee (Lepel town, Leninskaya Street, 6, office 107), contact person - Head of the Department of Architecture and Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the Lepel District Executive Committee Klyashtornaya Natalya Leonidovna, telephone 8 02132 6 70 05, lepelrik@vitebsk.by).

Written comments can be sent to the postal address: 211174 Lepel town, Leninskaya Street, 6. Contact person: Klyashtornaya Natalya Leonidovna, Head of the Department of Architecture and Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the Lepel District Executive Committee, telephone 6-70-05, e-mail: lepelrik@vitebsk.by.

A statement on the need for a meeting to discuss the environmental impact assessment report and statements on the intention to conduct an environmental review shall be sent in writing within 10 working days from the date of commencement of public discussions to the postal address: Lepel town, Leninskaya Street, 6 (marked for the Department of Architecture and Construction, Housing and Communal Services), by fax 8 0212 4-13-47, or by e-mail lepelrik@vitebsk.by.

The Lepel District Executive Committee is responsible for making decisions regarding economic and other activities (Lepel town, Leninskaya Street, 6, tel. 8 02132 6-70-05, fax 8 0212 4-13-47, lepel.vitebsk-region.gov.by).

A notice regarding the public discussion of the report "Reconstruction of the M-3 Minsk-Vitebsk Motorway, km 87.950 – km 112.000; km 135.500 – km 162.000" will be published in the newspaper "Lepelski Krai" on October 11, 2019, and on the website of the Lepel District Executive Committee lepel.vitebsk-region.gov.by