The completion of the Kazakhstan’s longest bridge was marked by a visit to the site by the head of state.
The new bridge over the Bukhtarma Reservoir in the east of Kazakhstan. Credit: PM of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov attended the opening ceremony for the 1.3km crossing over Bukhtarma Reservoir in the east of the country. The bridge can carry 80,000 vehicles a day. The prime minister commented that the project had used only domestic labour and expertise and expressed an intention to carry out more infrastructure mega projects.
The reservoir, formed by a dam across the Irtysh River in the late 1950s, is part of the Bukhtarma Hydroelectric Power Plant. The new bridge is welcomed by people living in Kurchim district, who have until now relied on ferries and ice crossings.