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Inspection of Crimean Bridge completed part


Vladimir Putin inspected the completed new road section of the Crimean Bridge, the construction of which began in February 2016. The President also met with the construction workers.
March 14, 2018
15:50
Tuzla Island






Together with the Crimean Bridge construction workers.

Workers have recently completed the primary construction of the road section, and are now laying asphalt, installing guardrails and lampposts.

According to the schedule, the road section of the Crimean Bridge is to be opened for traffic in December 2018, while the railway section is to be opened in late 2019. The new bridge will become a seamless transport link between Crimea and mainland Russia.

With a total length of 19 km, the Crimean Bridge will be the longest bridge in Russia and Europe. It consists of parallel road and railway sections. The bridge starts at the Taman Peninsula, runs along the 5-km long dam and Tuzla Island, crosses the Kerch Strait and ends on the coast of Crimea.

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Deputy Director General for Infrastructure Projects at Stroygazmontazh (contractor in the Crimean Bridge construction project) Leonid Ryzhenkin: Here we have people who have worked at this construction site from day one. They come from Tyumen, Nizhny Novgorod, and central Russia – everyone who joined the construction at its early stages.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: So, you have specialists from all over the country here. It is an interesting site. Looks formidable. As far as I understand, you will finish construction even ahead of schedule. You planned to finish at the end of the year, didn’t you?

Leonid Ryzhenkin: Yes, the motor road should open in late December.

Vladimir Putin: So, are you saying it will be ready by May?

Leonid Ryzhenkin: We are doing our best…

Vladimir Putin: It would be nice if people could use it during the summer. Although, the access roads will still need to be built, road workers still have work to do.

Well, I can say that it is an impressive sight. You are doing a great job. This project is unparalleled not only in our country. I think there are few similar projects worldwide.

I was just told how it was necessary to finish everything within theoe 72 hours and to put an anchor in place. It is complicated work. I congratulate you on completing this phase.

I hope that everything will be seen to the end, as planned, on time and maybe even ahead of schedule and with good workmanship. Great job. I wish you every success.

Is it possible to use this unfinished road to go from bank to bank?

Leonid Ryzhenkin: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: It remains only to finish the motor road, to place the road marks, and to pave it with asphalt concrete. This is not the hardest part of the job. Although the second part, which involves the railway, will require a lot of effort. Is it planned for 2019?

Leonid Ryzhenkin: Correct. The railway is planned for late 2019. Can you hear the sound of the poles for the railway being hammered in?

Crimea is straight ahead, a stone's throw away. Just a little bit is left.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

Remark: Mr President, at some point I was lucky enough to participate in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. I remember the builders of that time with their enthusiasm, hope and faith. But then, unfortunately, there came a period where no one seemed to need it.

The Olympics in Sochi – an undertaking of major proportions – was the first one that gave us faith and hope. The Crimean Bridge is Russia’s second similarly important landmark construction project.

Thank you, Mr President, for this glorious, significant project and the opportunity to make it a reality.

I believe the Crimean Bridge is critically important for Russia and gives hope and faith in the future prosperity and strength of our country.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: This project was in the works back in tsarist Russia. Work on it was underway when WWI broke out and foiled those plans.

Another attempt was made in the 1930s, but did not go through, either. More attempts were made later, but to no avail. Now, you made it happen, which is great.

Congratulations. I hope there will be another opportunity to congratulate you on finishing the entire site, but what has already been done is impressive.

Audience: I hope you will come to attend the opening of the motor bridge?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I will do my best to be here.Vladimir Putin visited Sevastopol


The President’s trip came on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the referendum on Crimea and Sevastopol’s reunification with Russia.
March 14, 2018
19:10
Sevastopol






At the Russia, Sevastopol, Crimea combined rally and concert. Photo: TASS

During the trip, the head of state met with members of the public in Sevastopol. The city’s most urgent problems, such as the upgrading of the transport fleet, were discussed. Vladimir Putin emphasised that considerable funds – over 100 billion rubles – have been allocated in the budget for the city’s development in the next three years. The President also noted that large-scale construction of social infrastructure has been planned.

In addition, the head of state announced that the city would receive a big multi-purpose cultural centre with branches of major Russian museums, such as the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, and a base for training artists and musicians.

The President said he was prepared to consider specific proposals from members of the public on establishing in the city an industrial centre, following the model of an industrial park, based on the territory of the old Parus plant, which will make it possible to create many jobs for city residents.

Later on Vladimir Putin took part in the Russia, Sevastopol, Crimea combined rally and concert.

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Speech at the Russia, Sevastopol, Crimea rally and concert

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Hello, friends.

It is a great pleasure to be with you on this day, particularly in this city of our labour and wartime glory, the Hero City of Sevastopol, the city of Russia’s legendary sailors.

Four years ago, you took a historic decision. Thanks to your decision, Sevastopol and Crimea came home – the home of the Motherland we share, the home of our Mother Russia.

With your decision, you restored historical justice, which was violated back in the Soviet times when Crimea and Sevastopol were illegally, even under Soviet legislation, sundered from the Russian Federation, the RSFSR.

You showed with your decision what real democracy is, as opposed to show democracy. You showed up at the referendum and made a decision, voted for your future and your children’s future.

Yes, my dear friends, we still have a lot to do to develop both Sevastopol and Crimea as a whole. These are long-term matters, we are working on them and we will keep on working until we see them through, because when we are together, we are a great force capable of solving the most complicated challenges.

Thank you very much to all of you. I am sending you all hugs!

See you soon! Thanks so much!Tour of Simferopol airport new terminal


The President visited the new air terminal complex of Simferopol International Airport. Construction of the terminal began in May 2016, and it is to be put into operation by the summer tourist season.
March 14, 2018
17:50
Simferopol






During a tour of the new terminal complex at Simferopol International Airport.

Vladimir Putin walked about the check-in area featuring a “green wall”, the largest indoor plant structure in Europe, and had a look at a scale model of the airport complex. He also heard a report on the progress of construction. After that, the President went to the baggage handling area, which for the first time in the history of the Soviet Union and Russia has an entirely domestically made system. The conveyor belts are two kilometers long in total.

The new terminal will have a capacity of 7 million passengers per year, which can be increased up to 10 million per year. It is equipped with 52 check-in counters, 28 elevators, 16 escalators, 8 jet bridges and 8 exits to buses, and also has special rooms for mothers with children, plus a play area for children.

By the end of 2019, the city is planning to finish overhauling the runway and building a new apron for 26 airplanes.

After finishing the tour of the new airport, the head of state signed the guest book for distinguished visitors.

In addition, during the tour of the airport Vladimir Putin learned about progress in implementing a number of federal targeted programmes. In particular, Energy MinsterAlexander Novak told the President about the measures to ensure the reliable operation of the energy system in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. According to Minister Novak, the first power-generating units at the Simferopol (Tavricheskaya) and Sevastopol (Balaklavskaya) thermal power stations in Crimea will be put into operation in late May, ensuring good power reserve capacity for the peninsula.

Next, the President of Russia heard the report of the Transport Minister Maxim Sokolovon progress in the construction of the Tavrida motorway between Kerch and Simferopol. Minister Sokolov said that two out of the four planned lanes would be finished by the end of the year. The entire project, including the section of the highway leading to Sevastopol, will be fully completed by 2020. The Minister of Transport also spoke about plans to build roads in Krasnodar Territory, including a project to build and renovate the road between Novorossiisk and Dzhubga.

Earlier in the day, the President visited the construction site of the Crimean Bridge, the new transport link between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, and met with construction workers.