OREANDA-NEWS.  September 21, 2012. This year, Russian Railways will invest over 1 billion roubles in the reconstruction of the railway bridge across the River Don and the construction of a new bridge on the stretch between Morozov - Volgograd, reported the press-centre of RZD.

The project began in 2011. To date, a working town has been built at Lozhki station to house 150 people involved in the bridge construction and a reinforced concrete plant set up to meet the needs of the bridge.

Work is currently underway to lay the subgrade formation on the Likhaya - Volgograd line. On the stretch between Post 278 – Lozhki, construction workers have drilled piles on the right and left banks of Tsimlyansky Reservoir to support the banks of the future bridge. The piles should be in place by the end of this year.

The raised track to deliver the bulk materials and metal structures is also nearing completion.

According to the project, the new bridge will be located 50 metres above the old bridge and its length increased by 40 meters to 800 meters. The bridge will be able to handle freight trains weighing up to 12,000 tons at a speed of 90 kph, as a result of which the journey time of both passenger and freight trains on the stretch between Morozovskya - Volgograd will be reduced significantly.

Completion of the new bridge is scheduled for 2015. Russian Railways will invest more than 7 billion roubles to implement this project.