Russia Adds Detailed Interchange and Tunnel Maps to Yandex Navigation Apps

Drivers in 50 Russian cities now have access to high-resolution 3D road maps that make navigating complex interchanges and tunnels easier than ever.

Yandex has rolled out a major update for its Yandex Navigator and Yandex Maps services, adding detailed renderings of highway interchanges, bridges, and tunnels. The upgrade is designed to enhance driver orientation in complex traffic zones and improve lane guidance.

In navigation mode, the app now displays 3D layouts of road structures, including lane markings, elevation changes, bridge supports, and road curvature. When approaching complicated sections, the interface zooms in automatically to help drivers stay on course. Tunnels are also visualized in three dimensions, clearly showing entry and exit points.

To create these realistic views, Yandex’s cartographers first record object elevations. Then, a custom-built algorithm renders the infrastructure based on traffic direction and geometry. The result is a more accurate and intuitive representation of road layouts and physical structures.

The update is already available on all supported devices, with plans to expand detailed interchange coverage to more cities in the future. Earlier this year, Yandex also added over a million pick-up and drop-off locations to its map database.