Who will build the bridge across the Kerch Strait? Construction of bridges. The project of the bridge across the Kerch Strait

The theme of building a bridge across the Kerch Strait has become especially relevant after the tumultuous political events of the first half of 2014 in Ukraine, which resulted in the return of the Crimea to the Russian Federation.

From the history of the question

The very idea of the desirability and necessity of connecting the two banks of the strait with a capital bridge has existed since time immemorial. It is reflected in some historical sources. But the construction of the bridge across the Kerch Strait has been constantly postponed for an uncertain future due to the technical complexity and financial cost of implementing such a project. Strictly speaking, the urgent need for it arose only at the present time. All the previous years with ferrying people and cars the Kerch ferry crossing was quite satisfactory. It has been working properly since September 1954 to this day. And ten years before that, a temporary bridge crossing across the strait was built. It was of great strategic importance for conducting military operations. It was built during the war by engineering units of the Soviet Army from materials that were prepared by the German invaders. The construction of the Kerch bridge ensured the material and technical supply of the planned large-scale offensive in the North Caucasus.

After the return of the Crimea

In the Soviet period of the history of the Crimea, the main flow of cargo and passengers to the peninsula was delivered by rail through the Perekop Isthmus. The ferry crossing across the Kerch Strait was of secondary importance. The situation radically changed after the return of the Crimea to Russia. The issue of the need to build a bridge over the bridge has moved from the stage of discussion to the implementation stage. An inevitable question arose as to who will build the bridge across the Kerch Strait. The construction is unique for Russia in its technical complexity. And it is necessary to build it as quickly as possible, so qualitatively. Against the background of political instability in Ukraine, the bridge across the strait acquired a key importance for the entire economic life of the peninsula. The economy of Crimea is based mainly on the service of tourists. And the traditional way for them, connected with transit through the territory of Ukraine, turned out to be a big question.

Between the Crimea and the Caucasus

It can not be said that the project of the bridge across the Kerch Strait was the first in scale in the history of the world bridge construction. On the globe you can find more complex and extended engineering structures. But with all this, it can not be attributed to ordinary bridge crossings at all desire. The Kerch Strait is not a very simple place, both geologically and hydrologically. The minimum distance between the coasts is about six kilometers. When choosing an engineering solution, developers have to take into account the seismic hazard of the whole area, the difficult ice situation in the strait, strong sea currents and frequent squall winds. The stormy state of the atmosphere is characteristic in the spring period for this part of the region. The most important thing is to ensure unhindered passage of vessels along the channel of the strait from the Black Sea to the Azov and vice versa.

Option Analysis

As of mid-June, 2014, it is not only unknown who will build the bridge across the Kerch Strait, but there is no definitive choice of the version of the project that the contractor is to implement. There are about eight such variants. The most important state requirement for the project is the combination in one engineering structure of the road and railway bridges. The most promising of all the cross-strait route options presented for discussion are two. They can be conditionally designated as "northern" and "southern". Of course, projects are analyzed not only by technical parameters, but also by the estimated cost of their implementation.

Through Zhukovka from Kerch

The northern option involves the construction of a bridge from the village of Zhukovka in the direction of the spit Chushka, where the Port of Kavkaz is located . At first glance, this option is optimal, since the distance between the banks in this place of the strait is minimal. It is less than six kilometers. But the construction of bridges, by definition, involves the optimization of communication routes. And this route can not be called optimal, it leads not to the shore of the Krasnodar Territory, but to the narrow and long spit Chushka, separated from the main directions by a large distance. In order for this project to be justified, it will be necessary to build lengthy approaches to the bridge from the Caucasus coast and to strengthen the unstable narrow strip of the Chushka spit.

Through Tuzla

This geographical name became known to the general public from the media. About ten years ago they told the public about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict because of this, a patch of land that was half washed by the sea currents. Today, the Tuzla spit is once again at the center of public attention as the most promising area for those who will build a bridge across the Kerch Strait. Most technical experts and those on whom decision-making depends, tend to give priority to the southern version of the route. And this despite the fact that the total length of the bridge in this place is about twelve kilometers. In fact, on this route it is necessary to build two bridges - Tuzla spit now is an island, and to get to it from the Taman peninsula, it is necessary to build a bridge crossing, in terms of throughput and technical parameters, not inferior to the main one. It will require a significant amount of engineering work to strengthen the island of Tuzla. But even taking into account all technical difficulties, the southern version of the route is minimal for budgetary expenses.

Alternative options

All other engineering proposals of the developers are reduced to combined variants of construction of the transitions on one of the two designated routes. Some of them offer a bridge, passing into the tunnel at half distance. Others provide a tunnel option only for the railway section of the bridge. But all this is much more expensive than the estimated costs. And unacceptable by security conditions - the seismicity of the area creates a potential threat to the lives of people who may be in the tunnel at the time of the tremors. Therefore, according to a combination of geological and economic circumstances, the bridge layout across the Kerch Strait will not include the tunnel section, regardless of the approval of the final version of the bridge crossing route.

About who will build the bridge across the Kerch Strait

The choice of the contractor of the grandiose engineering project has not yet been carried out. Needless to say, there is no shortage of people wishing to participate in the development of the budget? The cost of the bridge across the Kerch Strait can be determined only approximately. The officially named figure of 350 billion rubles is preliminary. Both the global and Russian experience in the construction of significant transport infrastructure points to the fact that in the process of implementing the project, budget plans tend to be adjusted upwards. It should be noted that, in spite of the fact that the Russian bridge building school has considerable experience in designing and constructing complex bridge structures, no such structure has previously faced a project from such a scale. The Kerch bridge more than twice exceeds the famous Presidential bridge over the Volga in Ulyanovsk, whose length is 5 kilometers 700 meters. And the timing of its erection is quite rigid. At present, a special structure has been created within the framework of the state company "Russian Highways". It functions as a construction customer. The company Giprotransmost OJSC was announced the winner of the competition for engineering surveys and development of the technical and economic basis.

Chinese participation

Huge practical experience in the design and construction of complex infrastructure facilities have Chinese engineering structures. According to the total length of bridges and motorways that are put into operation annually, this country has no equal in the world. The media reported on the interest and the alleged involvement of the Chinese side in the construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait. The initiative to attract the builders of the Celestial Empire came from the Russian side. The degree of participation of the Chinese in the project has not yet been determined.

Terms of construction

For the implementation of an unprecedented project on the Russian scale, four years have been allowed. Its construction should begin in the current year 2014. The bridge crossing over the Kerch Strait should be put into operation no later than the second half of 2018. Delaying the terms of construction and installation works will inevitably lead to a significant increase in the cost of the project. In addition to the bridge, on both sides of the strait a considerable amount of work is required to build access roads to it and various auxiliary engineering infrastructure. The economy of the Crimea depends on the timely commissioning of this facility. The Kerch ferry terminal has exhausted its reserves. Those who go to the Crimea to rest, it takes about a day to stand in line waiting for the crossing. This circumstance objectively restrains the flow of tourists to the peninsula.