OREANDA-NEWS. January 23, 2012. In 2011, Russian Railways invested 55 billion roubles in the project to build a combined road and rail link between Adler and the Alpika Service mountain resort, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.      

Russian Railways fully met the tasks it was set in 2011 to construct transport infrastructure in preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. In accordance with a government programme, Russian Railways is responsible for completing six facilities.

The most ambitious of these six projects is the combined road and rail link between Adler and the Alpika Service mountain resort, together with the construction of a second continuous railway line between Sochi - Adler - Veseloe. At the moment, 72% of the work on the project has been completed and the facility is due to be commissioned in April 2013. Total construction costs will be about 240.1 billion roubles.

In view of the alpine terrain through which the route of the combined link must pass, one of the main tasks in completing the project is to construct six tunnel complexes. The most complicated object in view of the geological and current engineering situation is Tunnel Complex 3. Engineering support for the tunnel works is provided by an international working group with the participation of experts from Amberg Engineering Ltd in Switzerland, which compiles a monthly risk assessment report and recommendations for the drilling operations. Drilling work at Complex 3 is being carried out on a continuous, non-stop basis. At the moment, 96% (3,079 m) of the road tunnel and 94% (4,296 m) of the railway tunnel have been completed. All drilling work on the tunnels in Complex 3 is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2012.

In addition, by August 2012, the track will be laid along the full 48.5km length of railway line between Adler and the Alpika Service mountain resort. In November 2012, it is planned to commission the new Adler railway station.