Cabinet approves agreement with Russia on construction of Kerch Strait crossing

The Government of Ukraine approved the Agreement with the Russian Federation on joint actions on launching construction of transport crossing over the Kerch Strait. "The government has approved the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the government of the Russian Federation on joint actions on organization of construction of transport crossing over the Kerch Strait, signed on Dec. 17, 2013 in Moscow," Oleksandr Vilkul, Acting Vice Prime Minister, has declared, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.

According to the document, geotechnical studies are planned for 2014. The parties then will jointly develop a Feasibility Study (FS). The study will include a review of the existing and prospective freight and passenger traffic. Also, the document will determine the type of future transport crossing (bridge or tunnel), the options of design and construction. The developed FS will be used as a basis for a final decision on the prospects for building a transport crossing.

According to Vilkul, the project will be coordinated by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, and the physical work will be performed by the State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine and Federal Road Agency of the Russian Federation. According to experts, the construction can last 3 to 4 years.