From 12 December 2026, entrance barriers in the Moscow City access zone are set to be removed. Automatic photo and video cameras will monitor vehicles instead. Moscow's Department of Transport announced the transition on 6 November.
Entry charges will remain unchanged when the new system launches. Physical barriers will be replaced with automatic monitoring. Removing the barriers does not make entry free.
Why the system is changing
The department expects the change to reduce queues at the district's entrances and exits. According to its figures, more than 150,000 people are present in Moscow City on weekdays. This is a count of people visiting and working in the area, not the number of vehicles.
The change is expected to ease pressure on the Third Ring Road, Presnenskaya Embankment, Testovskaya Street and 1st Krasnogvardeysky Drive. Its actual impact can be assessed after the system launches.
What drivers should know
The announcement concerns the Moscow City zone as a whole. It does not provide a detailed entrance-by-entrance plan, payment instructions or possible exceptions. It is therefore too early to apply the announcement to every individual tower car park.
Before travelling, consult the Moscow City parking and traffic guide and our guide to reaching the business district. Check the operator's additional instructions closer to 12 December.
Where else barrier-free entry is planned
The same system is also scheduled to launch in Skolkovo on 12 December. The developing SberCity district is expected to follow in 2027.
