Cebulostan - a post soviet city on far North

[Blabus]

Welcome to Cebulostan! A city placed at North of (fictional) Cebuland country. Cebuland since WWII stayed with close relations with CCCP, PRL and other countries of soviet block.

Cebulostan for many years was a small village like many others in Cebuland.

During economic changes between 80s and 90s the goverment notices that Cebulostan has perfect location to turn it into a big industrian city connecting Barents See and Baltic Sea.

In late 80s first factiories were build, the most muddy roads were dried and asphalt was laid and new workers arrived.

The village started to expand and first flats for workers were constructed.

First aerial photo of Cebulostan.

Road connecting town to outer world is still made of dirt, which may bring trouble during heavy rains or snowing. The goverment is working on improving local road network but there's still much to be done.

Not being able to rely on outer connections, local authorities decided to start their own food production.

Local bus line reaches not only residental area and factories, but also farmlands.

Sunshine above farms.

Another aerial photo. Four years later after first one.

At begining of 90s first signs of globalisation can be seen.

Some Kamaz trucks were rebuild to be used as firefighers trucks.

Dirt road has been finally replaced with expressway

The citizens really love pizza


That's the end of post #1. More coming soon.
Map: Aegean Strait
Map theme: Aegean Strait (not big surprice)
Buildings: from "Russian and Soviet style" and "Finnish" theme

 

[Lemente]

Wow, I love that.
Is it just a personal project?

Edit: you could use the Cimtographer mod to export roads data of your city and make maps showing each big change. (and also the Road Namer mod !)

 

[Blabus]

--Part 2--

More foreign stores arrive, finally workers can buy products from all around the world

New clinic is built on outskirts, funded by major.

Another aerial photo showing development of city.

New bus line is created, reaching both industral area and clinic.

Some photos showing contrast of residental area development.

First bridge is being constructed connecting both banks of river.

Another aerial photo, on right we can see that bridge got connected to new expressway leading to western part of country.

Traffic entering city and moving to industrial areas rises.

Hopefully old traffic junctions are rebuild allowing better flow.

Sadly highways leading to city are still jammed. Local authorities pressurise goverment to take actions.

On right bank of river new neighbourhood is constructed.

Another traffic problem appears. Junction with west highway becomes new chokepoint.

Traffic issues are finally solved after rebuilding old intersection.

Around mid 90s first train station is constructed. Finally products can be imported and exported without use of overcrowded expressways

Photo showing new district.

Same spot as before, camera rotated 180 degrees. In the background construction of new bridge can be seen. The road will lead straight to goods terminal.

Finished bridge connecting industrial area with terminal.

Bridge is completed however road still needs improvement.

Globalisation continues: (from left) Biedronka - Polish, Lidl - German, McDonalds - U.S. . New foreigh stores are supplied by rail. Hopefully global concerns didn't wipe out local entrepreneurs.

Endless arrivals and departures.

Comparing this photo and older photo of train station we can see how the area surrounding station developed in less than a year!

Final Aerial photo

Some citizens are whispering about major signing contract for new trams, however City Hall denies rumours.

End of part 2.

I wish I could show you some winter photos but winter themes seem to collide with this map/some mods. Map turns either into dessert world with sand everywhere, even on roofs or narrow roads are removed

 

[stiiknafuulia]

Two things come to mind that go against realism (not sure if you mind this ofc):
1) Afaik, you can't grow any kind of crops that far north; and
2) Judging by the look of your map, if everything else remains like irl, Cebulostan would have been a major city long before the 1980s, given its strategic location. Also, although you did say that the two countries maintained close ties, I can't imagine Russia not annexing Cebuland directly because such a waterway would have enormous geopolitical importance, both economically and for national defense (Putin would cream his pants if that map were to become a reality!).

Game's a game 'n all, but since you tried to make the buildings look 'Russian', I thought you might want to stick with reality in the framework of the story as well. Of course, perhaps more details have yet to surface which will explain the circumstances. Maybe the Soviet Union was much weaker and/or amiable for some reason in this universe; maybe global warming has made growing crops possible even that far North (it could also expain the formation of the waterway).

 

[muttonnoir]

Thanks for sharing. Interesting project. Like the soviet/Russian theme. Particularly appreciate the slow steady development of your city which adds to the realism. Stark landscape and local architectural style creates an authentic look. More please!

 

[Blabus]

-Part 3-
- Solving network problems -

In late 90s the most important junctions became outdated and couldn't handle increased traffic flow. New actions need to be taken.

Typical X junction rebuilt as a roundabout (a bit too big IMO) that increased traffic flow. Local authorities hope that main city entrance won't need any changes for at least 5 years.

On the other hand, roads around industrial district reminds of parking lot rather than alley.

Single truck driving through, the rest in background is desperatelly trying to get to the bridge.

Big amount of trucks trying to reach industrial area.

This is the moment when I'll explain what's going on here. (I forgot to take screenshots so I drew it on old map, /dat paint skillz/ )

( Terminal* - Please ignore spelling mistake)
Both chokepoints are T junctions.
Chokepoint 1:
- people from main city try to reach their workplaces
- people from new district also go to their workplaces
- trucks trying to escape the city by bridge
- trucks going to other factories to deliver products

Chokepoint.
-all from above + trucks going to terminal

Many ideas to solve this were thought. The road is between the hill and water, that's not enough place to build a roundabout. Traffic light have already failed. Highway junctions are now taken into consideration. Half clover could create traffic issues for people entering and exiting bridge. Perfect Y interchange on this terrain would take way too much space. Finally trumpet interchange won.

(again ignore the spelling mistake) This is the theoretical plan of new interchanges. Old bridges need to be demolished and new higher will be constructed on same spot. Also a temporary bridge will be placed. City will need a big loan of money for this project.

Picture before deconstruction.

During the constructions. The bridge is not finished yet.

The same thing happened also on 2nd bridge.

Moments before opening.

New bridges.

Second end of bridge meets intersection with traffic lights with new dynamic timing sequence.

Morning rush hours from above. A lot of vehicles but dynamic traffic lights operate properly and traffic flow is correct. (all hail creator of traffic president mod)


The Majors office recently received many questions. Here are answers for some of them:

Wow, I love that.
Is it just a personal project?

Edit: you could use the Cimtographer mod to export roads data of your city and make maps showing each big change. (and also the Road Namer mod !)

Yes, this is a personal project, I got fed up with perfectly clean and skyhigh cities and that's why i decided to create a bit dusty, '80s-'90s-maybe'00s eastern europe city. The Russian theme is perfect for that.

Two things come to mind that go against realism (not sure if you mind this ofc):
1) Afaik, you can't grow any kind of crops that far north; and
2) Judging by the look of your map, if everything else remains like irl, Cebulostan would have been a major city long before the 1980s, given its strategic location. Also, although you did say that the two countries maintained close ties, I can't imagine Russia not annexing Cebuland directly because such a waterway would have enormous geopolitical importance, both economically and for national defense (Putin would cream his pants if that map were to become a reality!).


Game's a game 'n all, but since you tried to make the buildings look 'Russian', I thought you might want to stick with reality in the framework of the story as well. Of course, perhaps more details have yet to surface which will explain the circumstances. Maybe the Soviet Union was much weaker and/or amiable for some reason in this universe; maybe global warming has made growing crops possible even that far North (it could also expain the formation of the waterway).

Let's say it's a parallel universe where cold war wasn't that cold. After small nuclear incident between CCCP and USA, some soviet nations grew desire to gain independence. Typical nuclear war leads to nuclear winter thanks to clouds of dust covering entire planet but hopefully here, the war ended quickly. What's more nuclear detonations on North Pole melted ice caps which reflected sun rays. Dark water absorbed heat energy leading to butterfly effect. More water absorbing sun heat -> higher water temperature -> water melted ice reflecting sun rays -> more water absorbing heat -> repeat. As the temperature rose new plants could be grown on north. I hope you are pleased with my explanation.

 

[Blabus]

-Part 4-
- Harbours and coastline -
I guess you remember that the main goal of expanding this city is to create a connection between two seas. The plan is to open two harbours before beginning of new millenium.

First station is constructed. Even though it's a big building the vastness of area around is overwhelming.

The plan for future project. The team is split into 2 teams. One will focus on improving road access to already existing harbour, the second one will build other harbour. As you can see some villages need to be demolished in order to construct new railroad.

Construction of 2nd port.

Before constructing an overpass above railroad

During the construction. Please note the lack of village that was seen on previous photo.

Finished overpass.

The project finished 6 months before planned date. Futhermore the cargo terminal was moved to more accesible area.

View at the 2nd harbour from other coast.

Same place. Camera rotated 180 degrees. We can see new neighbourhood for middle class workers. The bay is a perfect location to relax after work.

The sunset