IKEA may be forced to build access roads in Moscow

IKEA may build new speed change lanes on the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD) near its shopping mall in the South-West of the Russian capital to reduce traffic congestion, according to local press. Deputy Moscow Mayor Nikolai Lyamov said the owners of stores located near MKAD will have to pay for the construction of new roads from their own pockets. He did not rule out that access lanes leading to shopping malls along MKAD could be closed for traffic if no additional roads are built to ensure access to the trade centres.

"We fully support the Moscow authorities' initiative," IKEA said, adding that over 100 million people visit its shopping malls around Moscow annually. This is not the first time IKEA has to construct roads in Moscow. It was earlier forced to twice build a bridge above the Leningradskoye Highway, near its Khimki shopping mall, due to disputes between Moscow and the Moscow Region over who owned that section of the road.

Planet Retail