On May 30, 2024, representatives of the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) visited the Uzhhorod –Vyšné Nemecké road border crossing point (BCP) to meet with representatives of the Zakarpattia regional state administration and regional State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration) and the State Customs Service of Ukraine.
USAID ERA completed the rapid upgrade improvements of the BCP, which involved the installation of fully fitted prefabricated buildings for use as offices and restrooms, traffic organization tools such as road signs and barricades, cargo weighing scales, LED lighting, and pavement repairs, which will increase the car processing capacity of the BCP from an average of 630 to 900 cars per day. The passenger terminal opened to traffic on May 31, 2024.
“The Agency for Restoration oversees 29 border crossing points on Ukraine’s western and southern borders. Some of them have already been modernized, while repair work is ongoing on the rest. Our partners, USAID ERA, provide significant support. The Agency’s task is to improve export logistics, ensure the quick delivery of humanitarian and military cargo, and make border crossing more comfortable for passengers and drivers. We thank USAID for their consistent and systematic support of the Agency for Restoration’s activities,” the Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine emphasized.
A construction fence along the BCP’s passenger terminal previously limited space for cars passing from Ukraine into Slovakia, which caused longer wait times. ERA’s rapid upgrade improvements widened the asphalt pavement and created an additional lane through which passenger vehicles could cross. ERA also equipped Uzhhorod BCP with an additional office for the Passport and Customs clearance to manage the increased traffic. USAID ERA’s completed works have connected the Border Guard post to a waiting lot where cars can queue before crossing into Slovakia.
Earlier in May, ERA completed modernization work at one of Ukraine’s largest road BCP, Yahodyn-Dorohusk, which borders Poland.
Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ), to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs).