OREANDA-NEWS. The construction of the first international bridge connecting territories of Russia and China is completed near the city of Blagoveshchensk, Amur Region.

According to the Governor of the Amur Region Vasily Orlov, after the opening of the bridge, “the volume of agricultural exports (Between the two countries. – Ed.) will reach a qualitatively new level.” “The bridge creates economic prerequisites for the implementation of a number of investment projects in the region, as it significantly reduces the cost of logistics,” the politician added.

Orlov also mentioned that the Amur Region is working with federal authorities on the creation of modern checkpoints. “An investor for building a transport and logistics complex has already been identified. Investments in the bridge zone will amount to about 8.5 billion roubles (About 132 million US dollars. – Ed.). The project will be implemented… in three years,” the head of the region said.

The construction of the bridge between Russia and China began in December 2016. The bridge is built almost 100 % out from Russian materials. Each of the two countries constructed exactly half the bridge 540 meters long. The construction was carried out day and night; about a thousand people were involved in it. Both parts were built synchronously from two banks: the joining was carried out in May 2019. The total length of the bridge road complex is 20 kilometers: 6 kilometers of road in China and 13 kilometers in Russia.

Freight traffic through the bridge will begin in April 2020. The beginning of passenger traffic is scheduled for 2021.