The Crimean Bridge is open: Putin drove across it driving a Kamaz
In the Russian Federation, the bridge across the Kerch Strait has been opened to traffic. President Vladimir Putin took part in the ceremony. He personally drove the Kamaz at the head of a convoy consisting of construction equipment, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The convoy's passage across the bridge took 16 minutes 45 seconds.
"Congratulations. The first line, but probably the most important. I have no doubt that you will succeed, and in the fall the freight part will be introduced, and then, a year later, the railway part. Everything is of high quality, on time, even six months ahead of schedule. Great, well done. Thank you very much,” Putin said, addressing the bridge builders.
The new transport crossing, named the Crimean Bridge by vote of Russians, is the longest in Europe. It was built ahead of schedule in just four years.
The total length of the bridge is 19 kilometers, 11,5 of which are on land and 7,5 over the sea. Travel on the bridge will be free - four lanes, two in each direction, have been opened for traffic. Until the fall of this year, only passenger vehicles will be able to travel along them, and two lanes of railway traffic will be opened in December next year. The grand opening of the bridge took place today, and tomorrow at 6 am the first motorists will be able to cross it.
Today, the President of the Russian Federation also visited the production control center on the bridge, from which the state of the transport crossing will be monitored thanks to installed sensors and video surveillance cameras.
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