Russia, bridge with Crimea almost ended

The laying of the railway arch of the controversial bridge that will connect Crimea with Russia has been completed. The Guardian reports this, explaining that the 6000-ton arch was positioned at a height of 35 meters above the sea in an operation that involved hundreds of workers. This is a key step in completing the bridge, which is expected to open next year to road traffic and to rail traffic in 2019. The construction will have important practical implications for Crimea, but it also has a strong symbolic value as it underlines the Russian determination to maintain control over this territory torn by a military coup from Ukraine in March 2014. Connected to Ukraine by a small isthmus, Crimea is separated from Russia by the Kerch Strait which connects the Black Sea with the Sea of ​​Azov. After the Russian annexation, which was not recognized internationally, Crimea found itself literally isolated. Once the border with Ukraine is closed, all supplies arrive from Russia by plane or boat. At over 19 kilometers, the bridge will be the longest in all of Russia. Talking about this work began in the XNUMXs, but the projects have always been abandoned due to costs and technical difficulties in a difficult geographical area due to frequent bad weather.