Putin drove KAMAZ on the Crimean bridge

15 May 2018

Traffic will open on may 16

On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin participated in the opening ceremony of the traffic on the Crimean bridge. The President personally took the wheel of the KAMAZ truck and arrived from the Krasnodar region to Kerch in just 16 minutes. The head of state led the convoy of three dozen trucks. Their procession has become a symbolic test of the bridge for strength. The safety event was watched by more than five hundred emergency workers.

Following the visit, the President congratulated the constructors on the successful completion of one of the largest projects in recent years. a "All high quality, on time — even six months ahead of schedule. Thank you", — said Vladimir Putin. In conclusion, the head of state expressed hope that the second and third stage of construction of the bridge also will be completed in time.

a "I sincerely congratulate you on this wonderful holiday, in the full sense of the word historic day. In different historical periods, even with the king-priest of the people dreamed to build this bridge. <...> And finally, thanks to your work, your talent, this project, this miracle happened. Thank you very much", — said Vladimir Putin.

the Second and third phase of the Crimean bridge

At the moment only completed the first phase of construction. Traffic will start across the Kerch Strait will start tomorrow, may 16. It really is six months ahead of the previously established plan. It is noteworthy that the builders had to the opening of the tourist season.

Crimean bridge became the longest in the country: it stretches for 19 kilometers. In the period of discussion of plans for the construction of the skeptics did not believe that such a big structure, in principle it will be built, not to mention the completion on time and even earlier.

On the bridge across the Kerch Strait will set a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h While on the bridge it will be impossible to stop.

But it is too early to speak about full completion. In the next six months the bridge will be able to pass only passenger cars. The movement of trucks is scheduled to open in October 2018 and trains at the end of 2019.

Construction of Crimean bridge began in February 2016. The total project cost is estimated at 227,9 billion. It is expected that he will skip for 14 million passengers and 13 million tons.

the Growth of attractiveness of the Crimea and the decline in the value of leisure

Experts believe that the opening of traffic on the bridge across the Kerch Strait will significantly bolster the development of the tourism industry on the Peninsula. The head of the Federal tourism Agency Oleg Safonov has expressed the opinion that completion of construction will lead to increased investment in infrastructure, not to mention the natural growth of tourists. The average cost of a vacation may even decline.