A 7.6-km all-season aerial lift bridge will link the towns of Anadyr and Ugolniye Kopi in Chukotka.

"The development and design work are to start in the third quarter of 2021. Considering the remoteness of the area, the unique climate conditions and the seasonal nature of construction operations, the bridge is expected to open in the winter of 2023/2024," reports the press service of the Russian Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic.

Anadyr Estuary divides Anadyr and Ugolniye Kopi, another larger town. An ice crossing links them in winter, and helicopters, skimming boats and hovercraft operate here during other seasons. Over 60,000 people cross the estuary each year, 80 percent by plane.

Leonid Petukhov, General Director of the Far Eastern Investment and Export Support Agency, said the bridge would be open to traffic all year. According to the plan, with an average speed of five meters per second, it will take 25 minutes for a one-way trip. It will be possible to carry up to 280 people and up to 20 metric tons of cargo every hour.

"We are ready to support the project. An agreement was signed today. The project is a concession, and we have obtained principled support from state agencies and financial institutions. Kanatniye Aeromosty Co., the contractor, wants to attract investment for shareholding capital and is looking for partners," Petukhov noted.
The project is estimated at 2.7 billion rubles.

Roman Sementsov, Director for Transport and Logistics Infrastructure at the Far Eastern Investment and Export Support Agency, noted that a preferential regime for priority development areas, stipulating tax exemptions and administrative preferences, can support the project. In this connection, the agency plans to help the company draft a package of documents for requesting resident status from the Far East Development Corporation.