OREANDA-NEWS. Mostotrest has completed the reconstruction of the bridge over the Don River in the Aksaisk district of Rostov region at the 1061+596 km of the federal automobile road M-4 Don. The reconstruction operations were commissioned by the state company Avtodor.

The reconstructed object is split up into two bridges, and the two sides are dubbed “right” and “left.” The aim of the project was to increase the dimensions of the “left” bridge to accommodate current traffic volumes. The first stage of the reconstruction entailed the dismantling of the old bridge structure with complete disassembly of the reinforced concrete superstructure and support. A new bridge 1227.7m in length was then constructed in its place (including the bridge - 567.1m, the approaches - 660.6m; number of traffic lanes -3 (in one direction), traffic lane width - 3.75m).

Traffic was launched on the new bridge on November 1. The opening ceremony was attended by the Russian Minister of Transportation Maksim Sokolov, the Governor of Rostov region Vasily Golubev, the Avtodor Chairman of the Board Sergei Kelbach, the General Director of Mostotrest Vladimir Vlasov and the Director of OJSC Mostotrest in the south of Russia Aleksandr Goloshivets.

The bridge over the Don River at the 1061+596 km of the federal automobile road M-4 Don is part of the Rostov-on-Don unified transportation system. It not only enables transit traffic flows for the city, but also connects industrial, cultural and social facilitates located on both sides of the Don River as well as satellite cities with the regional center.

The reconstruction project also included a number of operations in setting up landslide protection structures that hold up the unstable right side of the Don, as well as the construction of approach roads to the bridge. In addition, wind deflectors and dampers were set up on the bridge superstructure in order to ensure aerodynamic stability. The road surface is also equipped with automatic anti-icing covering.

The reconstruction of the “left” bridge is the first step in the modernization plan for the entire bridge. The renovation of the “right” bridge is to follow. Renovation operations are scheduled to be launched in December 2014 and will be completed at the end of 2015. After renovations are complete, the bridge will have three traffic lanes in each direction.