Orsk opens two-lane bridge over Or River after reconstruction

Traffic has resumed on the bridge over the Or River on the Orsk–Dzhanatalap road. A reinforced-concrete bridge with two lanes replaced the old single-lane structure, Orenburg Governor Yevgeny Solntsev said.

Work began in May. The former bridge, built in 1980, was completely dismantled. Before reconstruction, vehicles were limited to 8 tonnes and 20 kilometres per hour, and opposing traffic could not pass on the bridge.

The replacement is designed for vehicles weighing up to 100 tonnes. It stands 1.5 metres above the former level. Solntsev said this should shorten the period of spring flooding and prevent submersion when water levels rise only slightly.

The project was carried out under the Infrastructure for Life national programme. The region plans to repair 22 bridge structures this year, including 18 on regional roads and four on municipal roads. Traffic has already reopened on 11, according to the governor.