( CNN ) -- If you 've ever griped about being mired in a traffic jam , there was proof this weekend in Russia that it could have been worse . Much , much worse . The backup Sunday afternoon on part of the main highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg -- the country 's two most populated cities -- stretched 125 miles long , according to media reports cited by state-run RIA Novosti news . Video showed fog , but little evident precipitation after days of heavy snow . Even so , movement along sections of the M-10 highway largely was limited to foot traffic , not vehicular traffic , as trucks and cars sat motionless . Efforts to clear roads had some impact by early evening , by which time tie-ups were down to 34 miles along the M-10 highway , reported the State Automobile Inspectorate , a division of Russia 's Interior Ministry . The length of the traffic jam was shrinking about three-fourths of a mile every hour , a spokesman for that agency told the state news outlet . That is an improvement , but still a far cry from the `` normalization '' of traffic that Russia 's Emergencies Ministry said would occur by 6 p.m. Sunday , according to RIA Novosti . An Emergencies Ministry spokesman reported that , by then , one lane in each direction of the M-10 was clear of snow -- allowing trucks to creep along at 5-10 kph ( 3-6 mph ) . Blame for the slow slog goes , at least in part , to bad weather . The traffic headaches began Friday , when heavy snow began falling in western Russia . By the time it finally tapered off , three feet had fallen . While snow and related traffic woes are hardly unprecedented in Russia in December , drivers had other reasons to complain . In comments on social networking and news websites , as related by RIA Novosti , stuck drivers and passengers reported cafes along the clogged roadway took advantage of them by ratcheting up prices . Others said some gas stations had run out of fuel , or grumbled that authorities were n't much help . Video showed an inflatable tent popped up on the side of highway , with tables inside full of people filling up on food and drinks . In addition to hot food and warming stations , the RIA Novosti report noted the Emergencies Ministry was making psychological support available to those having trouble coping with the days-long traffic nightmare . `` ( Emergencies Minister Vladmir Puchkov ) is making sure that all necessary measures are being taken and that all vital personnel in afflicted regions have everything they need , '' a ministry spokesman said .
Heavy snow starting Sunday caused traffic woes in western Moscow . By Friday early evening , the Emergencies Ministry on a major highway reportedly stretched 125 miles . Vehicles were finally moving better by the evening , though still only at 3 to 6 miles per hour . Some travelers griped about price gouging , lack of gas and the response from authorities .