Russia - Severe delays between Moscow and SVO

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/07/01/Traffic-delays-costly-for-Aeroflot/UPI-23081278013337/
MOSCOW, July 1 (UPI) -- Russia's largest airline said Thursday traffic tie-ups cost it more than $800,000 on Monday because of road repairs on a route to the Sheremetyevo airport.

Andrei Kalymykov, deputy chief executive officer at Aeroflot, said the airline had refunded 75 percent of the price of the ticket for about 1,300 passengers who had missed their flights because of traffic delays, RIA Novosti reported.

The trip from Moscow to the airport was taking 5-6 hours on Monday as repairs began on the Leningradsky highway.The Aeroexpress train is being offered as an alternative, but there's reports that it's running at capacity too.

And this being Russia, there's also conspiracies being alleged (http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/hundreds-miss-sheremetyevo-flights-because-of-road-work/409563.html):Sheremetyevo director Mikhail Vasilenko said on his blog Wednesday that City Hall had intentionally blocked off the roads in order to undermine Sheremetyevo and support rival airport Vnukovo, which is opening a new terminal in July.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/07/01/Traffic-delays-costly-for-Aeroflot/UPI-23081278013337/
The Aeroexpress train is being offered as an alternative, but there's reports that it's running at capacity too.

And this being Russia, there's also conspiracies being alleged (http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/hundreds-miss-sheremetyevo-flights-because-of-road-work/409563.html):

The road does need it but this work sure enough popped up with little to no notice.

This should be finished in early/mid October and I would seriously suggest avoiding this route at all costs. On the plus side, you're going to get hassled a lot less now by the taxi drivers in the arrivals terminal, while DME is probably going to be crawling with'em.

I took the Aeroexpress at rush hour (6pm) to SVO on July 3rd. It was crowded, but not unreasonable. If you don't get there early and don't want to stand, they're running a deal now where business class (with a reserved seat) is only 200 rubles ($6) more than coach.

As I'll need to make this drive with my wife, 4 kids, and in laws on Monday morning of next week, I'm pretty sure they said recently that all 4 lanes are open again per the Putin's mandate. Isn't that true? I'd rather not lug my family and luggage onto the plane when a van has been provided for our transport.

All lanes open, right? Please?

Woody, they still have one lane in each direction closed (as I understand it, I've not been out there myself except on the train), but things have improved tremendously. You should be fine, especially heading out in the morning (since most of the traffic will be heading the other direction).