August 1, 2012 there was a significant event in the history of the Far East region of our country. On this day, the Russian Bridge (Vladivostok) was put into operation, the photo of which immediately graced the pages of leading domestic and foreign publications. And this did not surprise anyone, since long before the opening ceremony, many world media called the construction of this structure one of the most ambitious projects of the 21st century.
History
The Russian bridge was decided to be opened for traffic by the time the APEC Summit, which was supposed to be held on the island of the same name, began. The construction of the facility began in the second half of 2008 and took four years to complete. However, the idea of building an object arose many decades before, and more than once. During the 20th century, two projects were developed with an interval of almost 25 years, but neither of the presented developments proved to be viable.
In 2007, new options were offered. Among the 10 architectural and engineering works presented by the leading design bureaus of our country, experts singled outthe original design of a cable-stayed bridge, although the possibility of erecting a suspension bridge was previously considered.
Foreign specialists and the best Russian engineering organizations actively participated in the work on the project.
USK Most became the general contractor for the construction, and the total amount of the contract amounted to 32.2 billion rubles. As for the supervision of the project, it was entrusted to V. Kurepin.
The new bridge was built at an accelerated pace simultaneously from the mainland side and from the coast of the island. Two teams of builders were moving towards each other, which met on April 12, 2012.
A month after the opening, the object received the official name - Russian Bridge. Vladivostok has acquired a new attraction, which today is considered the main architectural symbol of the city.
Architectural features
Thanks to a span of 1104 m, the Russian Bridge is the pride of Vladivostok residents and the largest object of its kind in the world. The whole structure rests on the guys, which are strong cables. They are fixed on poles - pylons with the help of fasteners. The height of the Russian bridge in Vladivostok is 321 m, the distance between the vaults and the water surface is 70 m. This circumstance allows heavy ships to freely ply under it.
The load on the pylons of the Russian Bridge is evenly distributed. For the construction of each of the pillars, 9,000 cubic meters of high-quality concrete were used. One pylon could accommodate a residential microdistrict, and such pylons havebridge two.
The Russian Bridge is 1885.5 meters long and weighs 23,000 tons. The width of the carriageway is 24 meters (four lanes).
Bridge Maintenance
The condition of the structure is constantly monitored by a team of technicians and meteorologists. The specialists serving the bridge rise to a height of 300 meters along the stairs arranged inside each pylon. Occasionally, these premises are allowed to visit journalists and professional photographers. Bridge weather, wind direction, visibility, sea waves are monitored for timely action.
A viewing platform is equipped at the congress. It offers an amazing view of the endless Pacific expanse.
Construction Features
The Russian Bridge is called unique by many experts, and not only because of its length. The very construction of such a structure in the climate of Primorye can be considered unusual. High humidity, frequent squally winds, significant temperature fluctuations created big problems and forced architects and engineers to look for extraordinary solutions. The cable-stayed system for the Russian Bridge was developed by French scientists, who proposed the use of a special steel composition with a long service life (up to 100 years), at temperatures from -40 ºС in winter to +40 ºС in summer. In addition, the design was created taking into account the requirement of increased aerodynamic stability.
Meaning of the structure
Russian Bridge plays an important role in lifeVladivostok. It is of great economic and political importance, and also provides road links between the mainland and the island parts of the city. At the same time, those traveling to Russky Island should remember that military bases have been located there for more than a century, and you can accidentally get into the territory, the entrance to which is prohibited for the inhabitants.
The administration of the region plans in the near future to place modern manufacturing enterprises, hotels, sports facilities, museums and attractions, residential neighborhoods and educational centers on Russky Island. Thus, with the commissioning of the bridge, broad prospects for investment in new housing construction and the creation of infrastructure facilities have opened up. It has also become the main highway for FEFU students to get to their new campus on Russky Island. At the moment, hostels are already operating there, in which up to 11,000 students can simultaneously live. In addition, several academic buildings, a high-rise Student Center building, and many sports facilities are located on campus.
Travel
Unfortunately, you won't be able to walk across the bridge. It is intended only for the movement of public and private vehicles, and today it is considered the fastest and most convenient road from the main part of the city of Vladivostok to the historical one. However, even drivers and passengers of cars are delighted and delighted with the passage of the bridge, as they find themselves at a height of 70 meters above the water surface.
Tours
Russian Bridge today is often used as a highway through which residents of Vladivostok go to the island of the same name on weekends. There is the historical part of the city, and the ruins of an old fortress have been preserved. In addition, there are cannons at the descent from the Russian Bridge. They once belonged to the Novosiltsevskaya battery, built in 1901.
Some Vladivostok residents go to Russky Island in the summer to organize picnics and to sunbathe and swim. In addition, some travel agencies organize sightseeing tours, including a visit to the city's famous bridges. Their program necessarily includes a visit to the islands in Peter the Great Bay.
If you have a chance to visit Vladivostok, be sure to check out the Russian Bridge. It will surely impress you with its size and power. This building is especially beautiful in the evening, in the lights of decorative lighting, so many travelers prefer to climb the observation decks after sunset.
