Atyrau: Bridge between Europe and Asia Partially Closed

A crack has appeared on the bridge in the Makhambet district of the Atyrau region, an Orda correspondent reports.

Trucks from Turkmenistan to Russia, as well as other countries, use the bridge.

Construction of the 860-meter-long and 13-meter-wide bridge across the Ural River in the Makhambetsky District began in 2014 and was completed in 2017.

The project cost was 9.4 billion tenge, allocated from the regional and Republican budgets. Atyrauingstroy LLP was the general contractor, and Energomost LLP carried out the work.

The new bridge across the river connects the two banks and two parts of the world – Europe and Asia – and the border between them passes through this place.

The bridge connects the Atyrau-Aqtobe-Astrakhan highway, increasing the region's transit potential. Cargo from Russia and goods from other countries heading to Europe and back pass through it.

The bridge also connected residents of ten rural districts on both sides of the river, with a total population of about 40 thousand. Highway approaches were built on both sides of the bridge, connecting the Atyrau-Inderborsky and Atyrau-Uralsk highways.

Cracks were recently discovered on the bridge and had to be partially closed.

The Akimat of Atyrau Region reports that the damage appeared in the middle part of the bridge between the villages of Makhambet and Jalgansay.

In connection with this, the movement of heavy trucks on the bridge was prohibited. Passenger cars are allowed to travel at a speed of no more than 20 kilometers per hour since their weight does not pose a risk,  the Akimat reported.

Road signs will be set up on the bridge warning drivers of the restrictions introduced.

Original Author: Daniel Arturov