Russia and Crimea to be linked by new bridge
A new bridge is to be built across the Strait of Kerch, linking Russia with Crimea. Construction of the bridge, which will be 4 km in length and cost up to $2.74 billion, will be overseen by the official responsible for the bridge from Russky Island to Vladivostok.
Plans for the new road and railway bridge, which will connect Russia and Crimea, will be ready by the end of 2014, and the construction itself will take about three years, with the total cost of the project potentially reaching 100 billion rubles ($2.74 billion).
The best design for the construction of the future transport corridor between the peninsula and the rest of the country must be selected by the end of 2014, Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov told President Vladimir Putin at a meeting about transport questions associated with Crimea.
During the meeting, Vladimir Putin reminded those present that both a road and railway bridge must be built over the Strait of Kerch.
The Minister of Transport said that the construction of a road bridge would cost at least 50 billion rubles. However, if the project provides for combining it with a railway, the construction cost will increase to 100 billion rubles.
By comparison, the construction cost of the road bridge to Russky Island in Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East was 34 billion rubles.
Alexander Afanasyev has been appointed as the project supervisor and general director of the project. As the head of one of the structures of the Federal Road Agency (Rosavtodor), he was responsible for the construction of the bridge to Russky Island, the construction of which was timed to coincide with the 2012 APEC summit in Vladivostok.
Several potential contractors have already announced their interest in the development of the project. In particular, Russian Railways has declared its willingness to take part in the development of the project.
Russia and Ukraine had actively discussed the construction of a transport crossing over the strait in 2010, and in 2013, they signed a bilateral agreement on its construction. Now, due to the fact that Crimea has joined Russia, the bridge will be constructed exclusively at the expense of Russian investors.
Based on materials from Gazeta.ru
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