Kyiv plans to build new crossings across the Dnieper for UAH 1 billion: what is known

The capital plans to build additional crossings across the Dnieper and access roads to them. Kyiv is to allocate 1 billion hryvnias for the implementation of the project. The decision is related to the need to ensure transport connections between the city’s banks in the face of increasing Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko announced this following a meeting of the capital’s Defense Council.

The government initiated the construction of new crossings

According to Vitaliy Klitschko, during a meeting of the Kyiv Defense Council on October 27, the issues of implementing the project for the construction of combined water crossings across the Dnieper and the arrangement of access roads were considered.

The project was initiated by the state. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has already adopted a relevant resolution.

At the same time, the final determination of the locations of the new crossings will be the responsibility of the military command.

The proposed locations must be agreed, in particular, with the Kyiv City Military Administration.

Thus, decisions on the location of the crossings will be made taking into account the security situation and the needs of the capital’s defense.

How much will the construction cost

According to preliminary information, 1 billion hryvnias will need to be allocated for the implementation of the project.

As the mayor reported, in accordance with the government’s recommendations, Kyiv must find the necessary financing.

The funds are provided for the construction of combined water crossings and the arrangement of access roads to them.

At the same time, the exact number of crossings, their location and the completion date of the work are not yet specified.

Russian attack damaged the Southern Bridge

The issue of creating additional transport connections has become particularly urgent after the massive Russian shelling of Ukraine on the night of October 27.

The main blow fell on Kyiv, but ten regions of Ukraine were also attacked.

As a result of a missile and drone strike, the Southern Bridge, which connects the right and left banks of the capital, was damaged.

Acting Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Andriy Tkachev reported several hits in different parts of the bridge.

Damage to one of the capital’s key transport facilities has raised the issue of creating backup routes between the banks of the Dnieper.

Bridge protection is being strengthened in Kyiv

In addition to the construction of new crossings, the safety of the operation of existing bridges was discussed at a meeting of the Capital’s Defense Council.

According to Klitschko, specialized city agencies are already developing additional technical solutions to protect bridge structures from the consequences of Russian attacks.

The main task is to increase the stability of the transport infrastructure and ensure the possibility of movement between the banks even in the event of damage to individual facilities.

What options for crossings are experts considering

Previously, Defense Express specialists analyzed possible technical solutions for organizing alternative communication across the Dnieper.

One of the options is the use of pontoon bridges.

According to experts, the width of the Dnieper in some areas near Kyiv is approximately 400–600 meters.

To arrange a continuous pontoon crossing, it may take from two to four complete sets of pontoon-bridge parks.

At the same time, the implementation of such a solution has a number of difficulties.

In particular, pontoon-bridge complexes are at the disposal of engineering units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and are used to perform combat missions.

Therefore, attracting additional equipment will require finding reserves.

Among other possible solutions, experts mentioned the construction of a road tunnel under the Dnieper and the organization of a ferry connection.

However, the construction of the tunnel may take about four years, while ferry crossings have limited capacity.

At the same time, the final type of new crossings that are planned to be arranged in Kyiv was not officially specified.

Why new crossings are important for the capital

In the conditions of a full-scale war, bridges across the Dnieper are of strategic importance for the functioning of Kyiv.

They provide transport connections between the right-bank and left-bank parts of the city, the movement of public transport, the work of emergency services and the transportation of necessary goods.

The creation of additional crossings can increase the resilience of the capital’s transport system and provide alternative routes in the event of damage to the main bridges.

Further implementation of the project will depend on the determination of construction sites by the military command, the approval of relevant decisions and the provision of financing.

At present, we are talking about a planned project, not about construction that has already begun.