SLAVGOROD DISTRICT, 13 July (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko inaugurated a bridge over the Sozh River in Slavgorod District, Mogilev Oblast on 13 July, BelTA has learned.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the road-building companies that took part in the construction of the bridge and residents of Slavgorod District.
The head of state stressed the importance of the bridge, first of all, for those who live in Krasnopolye District and Slavgorod District of Mogilev Oblast. They waited for this bridge for several decades, since the Soviet Times when the idea of the bridge emerged. Its implementation, however, was delayed due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
“We have made this dream a reality. The residents on the left bank can now easily travel to the right bank, without the need to make a journey of some 120-130km. We have improved the logistics, building this bridge, making a good present for you,” the president said.
The head of state shared his recollections of working in the region while he was deputy director of the construction materials plant in Shklov. He said that he often visited Slavgorod, knows the district well, appreciates the work of local residents who faced great difficulties after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant but who were able to overcome them.
The president addressed the words of gratitude to those who took part in the construction of the bridge, commending their rational approach to the project: the beams from the bridge over the Sozh in Krichev were used in the construction of a new bridge in Slavgorod. The work may have been completed more quickly, but this depended on funding. Using the construction of the bridge over the Sozh as an example, the head of state explained the course of further reforms in Belarus. “Reforms are about this. How many of them there will be, how fast they will be implemented will depend on the money. Therefore, do not believe those who say they will throw money from the helicopter and build almost a thousand bridges every year. This will never happen," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The Sozh River divides the area into two parts. Before the bridge was built, both local residents and workers of agricultural companies had difficulties with getting on the other bank of the river.
From mid May to November people crossed the river using a temporary pontoon bridge which connected the P140 Slavgorod-Krasnopolye highway. The residents on the left bank of the river reached Slavgorod via Krasnopolye and Cherikov. The journey took 120km.
The issue of the construction of the bridge arose in 1984. A plan for the bridge crossing was drawn up. However, the Chernobyl disaster happened and the project was shelved. The idea of construction reemerged in 2007 during the reconstruction of the bridge over the Sozh in Krichev. Existing beams were dismantled and stored next to the bridge to be used in the construction of the bridge in Slavgorod District
In 2017, the beams were transported by water along the River Sozh from Krichev to the construction site in Slavgorod. They were transported by a floating system that included two barges connected to each other. The floating system was designed and mounted by the Mostootriad 425 branch of OAO Motostroy.
The bridge over the Sozh will make travel easier for residents of the left bank and will create more opportunities for the development of Mogilev Oblast thanks to better logistics, including thanks to the access to the frontier regions of Russia.
