Over 2.5 million rivers flow through Russia. Therefore, the construction of bridges in our country is not a luxury, but a vital necessity. Well, since the rivers are different - wide and narrow, with high and low banks, navigable or not, then the bridges thrown over them differ from each other.
What are the largest bridges in Russia? Let's try to answer this question.
Signs of large bridges
How to identify the signs by which the largest bridges in Russia will be named?
There are a number of parameters that can be used to characterize any artificial structure connecting the two banks of the river:
- the width of the bridge depends on the intensity of automobile and pedestrian traffic;
- on the type of subgrade and terrain - the length and height of the structure.
Therefore, the largest bridges in Russia can be the widest, and the longest, and the highest. In addition, when determining the length, it is necessary to take into account the footage of the whole complex of approaches and overpasses.
Which bridge is the longest
The bridge is about with. Magpies Mountains in Tatarstan consists of several spans over water:
- 1608 m of bridge structures pass over Kama,
- 69.8 m - over the Kurlyanka river,
- 549.9 m - over the river Arkharovka.
The total length of the structure is almost 14 km - 13,967 m. The R-239 highway passes along it.
The need to build a reliable permanent crossing in this place was thought about even during the time of tsarist Russia, because in winter it was possible to get over only with strong ice. People walked 7 km on a frozen river to get to the other side, and the passage of heavy trucks was generally prohibited. It was possible to implement the project in 2002, for some reason the construction has no name.
And another longest
If the bridge in Tatarstan consists of 2 spans, then the Presidential in Ulyanovsk is really the longest! Its length is 5825 m, and taking into account bridge crossings - almost 13 thousand m. Each span is 221 m.
The presidential bridge connects the two banks of the Volga, and for 23 years to the question of what is the largest bridge being built in Russia, people have long answered: "Ulyanovsky." The construction was completed only in 2009.
Now, 25 meters wide cars can pass, excluding heavy trucks, pedestrians pass, even bicycle paths have been created. Through it runs public transport.
In Vladivostok
The so-called Amur bridge in Vladivostok, built in 2012, was a little inferior to the President. Its length is 4364 m, and taking into account access roads it turns out even more - 5331 m. The construction was created to solve the transport problems of a large city. It connects the De Vries Peninsula with the Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, passing over the waters of the Amursky Gulf.
A distinctive feature of the Amur bridge is a smart system of LED electric lighting, which provides for the climatic features of the region (frequent rains and fog), but at the same time uses energy efficiently.
And another bridge was built in the same year - Russian, its length is 3100 m. It is not only one of the ten structures that are the longest in our country, but it is also unique in terms of design features and technical solutions used.
In the conditions of the Arctic
In the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, a bridge was built on piles driven into permafrost. He would have become known even only for this, but at the same time the bridge is also the longest beyond the Arctic Circle, its length is impressive - 3893 m.
The crossing thrown across the Yuribey River was erected so that it covers the floodplain, the indispensable spring flood of the river is taken into account. The construction was commissioned in 2009, and it is expected that it will last at least 100 years.
Amur miracle
They began to build a bridge across the Amur River in Khabarovsk in 1913, finished in 1916, and for a century now the construction has been functioning properly. Its length with access elements is 3891 m.
In 2009, the bridge, part of the M-58 highway, was reconstructed, and automobile and railway spans were repaired.
Khabarovsk bridge is part of the longest railway in the world - the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The longest metro bridge
From afar, the bridge in Novosibirsk across the Ob looks easy and elegant thanks to reinforced concrete supports. 896 m stretch over the river, but the entire structure has a length of 2145 m.
This is the world's longest covered bridge structure along which the Leninsky branch of the Novosibirsk metro passes.
Double bridge
An interesting technical solution was used to create the Bolshoi Obukhov bridge in St. Petersburg. In fact, these are two crossings, traffic along which is organized in the opposite direction. The length of the cable-stayed Bolshoi Obukhovsky is 2884 m, it is thrown across the Neva River and is one of the few non-adjustable in the Northern capital, although pedestrian traffic on it is prohibited.
Largest in width
If we take the width as the main parameter, then what is the largest bridge in Russia? It is also located in St. Petersburg and is one of the main attractions of the glorious city.
The Blue Bridge is the widest not only in our country, but throughout the world. Blue has a length of only 35 m, but a width of 97.3 m. It is thrown over the Moika and connects St. Isaac's Square with Voznesensky Prospekt. It can be fully seen from the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral, from where excellent photographs are obtained.
The wooden version of the bridge was built back in 1737, and although it was reconstructed twice, experts say that in general the construction has not changed much. Since then, the tradition of painting bridge grilles and railings in bright blue has been preserved.
The tallest
There is also the highest bridge in Russia - it was built on the M-27 highway, which connects Sochi and Dzhubga.
Although the length is small - only 576 m, the trip leaves an unforgettable experience. After all, the height of the bridge supports is 80 m, and a structure was erected over the deep tract Zubova Shchel. The bridge offers beautiful views of the sea and the beach, as well as the serpentine mountain road.
And another bridge, which is rightly called one of the highest in Russia, is the Russian in Vladivostok. The height of its pylons is 321 m.
Bridge over the Kerch Strait
Probably everyone knows where the largest bridge in Russia is being built. It reliably connects the Crimean peninsula with the Krasnodar Territory, creating convenient road travel and regular railway crossings.
The largest bridge in Russia is being built across the Kerch Strait from two sides at once:
- from Taman’s side from Portovaya station;
- from Kerch - in the area of Lower Solnechny.
The construction will pass along the Tuzlinskaya Spit and through the island of Tuzla and will consist of parallel automobile and railway roads. The construction cost is estimated at 212.5 billion rubles.
The railway component of the unique structure will be 18,118 m, the automobile - 16,857 m. If we take as a whole, then there has not been such a long bridge in Russia - only 19 km! The structure is protected from corrosion, ice drifts, possible seismic movements in the Kerch Strait, as well as from terrorists.
The construction under construction does not yet have a name.
Now the largest bridge in Russia is quickly being built and they plan to launch an automobile part in 2018, which will become part of the Kerch - Novorossiysk A-290 highway. About 40 thousand cars a day can pass through the bridge.
In order not to impede navigation in the strait, the largest bridge in Russia, there are at regular intervals arched openings for passage of ships.
Opening of the largest Russian bridge
The opening of the largest bridge under construction in Russia will be a real celebration for Crimeans. Indeed, with the advent of a full-fledged crossing from Kerch to the Taman Peninsula, the economy of the republic will receive a new incentive for development, and Crimeans will cease to be isolated from the "mainland".
Already thanks to the construction of the bridge, the adjacent territories are being equipped, road interchanges and the Tavrida highway from Kerch to Sevastopol are being built.
A bit about bridges
Although the bridge across the Kerch Strait will break all records in our country, it is worth knowing what other structures are considered the largest in Russia:
- In Saratov, there are two record holders. The new bridge has a length of 2351 meters; it helps to shorten the way from Europe to Asia through the Volga by five hundred kilometers. The old one, 2804 m long, is thrown over the Volgograd reservoir.
- The bridge in Volgograd is 2514 m long.
- Railway bridge 2517 m on the highway Adler - Krasnaya Polyana.