Helpful bridge

The construction of the bridge over the Kerch Strait is to begin in November 2014, Evgeny Moskvichev, head of the State Duma Transport Committee, said at the meeting with the employees of Kerch Commercial Seaport.

Earlier Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Kozak said that the construction would begin this autumn and that the bridge would cross the Kerch Strait from the Tuzla Split.

“The decision has been made and it will be the Tuzla option for the bridge. For many reasons, both in terms of cost optimization and in terms of ensuring the operation of the Port Kavkaz-Krym ferry service, which exists today," said Dmitry Kozak. 

He also noted that the project would be financed by the federal budget while the contractors are to be selected through a competition among both Russian and foreign participants including mixed consortiums. The interest has already been expressed by Chinese and Italian companies. 

However, we expect some problems for European companies to participate in Crimea-related projects in the context of the unfolding “war of sanctions”.

Besides, the Tuzla option for the bridge allows for connection to dry cargo district of port Taman. According to Deputy Transport Minister Victor Olersky, that would let save some RUB 25 bln for the federal budget. The experts of the Public Council of Russia’s Transport Ministry believe that connection of the dry cargo district of port Taman to the bridge would contribute to the development of Crimea itself.

Meanwhile, there are alternative projects for a transport link across the Kerch Strait. Russian businessman Gennady Timchenko suggests building a tunnel instead of bridge. According to him, this project would cost much less as compared with the Tuzla project (RUB 40 bln against RUB 300 bln).

“Today ferries carry four trains per day and the tunnel will boost throughput capacity more than ten times. Not four but forty four! One train every half an hour,” Timchenko said. He says the construction would take up to three years.

Timchenko also said that the project could be implemented by SK Most where he holds a blocking stake. 

This alternative could also solve the problem related to safe navigation while new facilities within the water area just aggravate the situation.

Nevertheless, this variant has certain disadvantages: its Zhukovsky option runs up to Kerch. This option envisages the construction of a tunnel from Zhukovsky to Chuska Split. Otherwise the tunnel is too long, hence more expensive. Moreover, it is more difficult to integrate this option with dry cargo district of port Taman and to save budget resources.

Anyway, the link should have a high throughput as it seems to become the main cargo/passenger traffic artery between Crimea and mainland Russia. Until it is built, long queues to ferries are not likely to disappear in peak seasons.

Vitaly Chernov