The completion of a unique wave bridge construction project is planned for Kyiv this autumn. The unusually shaped crossing will connect Obolonsky Island and Natalka Park. In addition to the unique nature of the project, it is also valuable as almost 300 tonnes of metal used for the bridge were manufactured at the Azovstal plant on the eve of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion.
Construction progress
The construction of this bridge began back in 2020, but was stopped due to the war. Several pillars for the future structure were erected on the construction site. The work here will soon intensify again as funding has been allocated for the structure.
“We found some patrons who are ready to finance the construction of the wave bridge. Some of them are Ukrainian businesspeople, but most of the financing has been provided by foreign investors. And not private ones, but state ones, for example, the City Hall of Paris,” the head of the bridge construction project, Andrii MYRHORODSKY, told the media.
They plan to build at a rapid pace and are already pledging to open the wave bridge this autumn.
“Factories involved in the construction of the bridge are operating at full capacity. Its girders are already being assembled at enterprises in Dnipro and Zhytomyr. After all, the metal for our bridge is the last thing that was able to be made at the Azovstal plant and taken from Mariupol to a safe place. Therefore, it is a great honour for us to build the bridge,” noted Andrii MYRHORODSKY.
Metinvest-SMC supplied almost 300 tonnes of hot-rolled plate of steel grade S355NL for the unique wave bridge. It is a grade widely used in bridge construction. In particular, S355NL was used to build a bridge over the Dnipro River in Zaporizhzhia, as well as over the Dniester River in the city of Yampil on the border with Moldova.
What will the bridge be like?
The bridge will consist of five steel waves. It will be exclusively for pedestrians. Cyclists will be able to cross the bridge only when there are no pedestrians on it.
The structures for the bridge are extremely complex. The facility has no equals in Ukraine.
The width of the structure is four metres, the length is 160 metres. The bridge will be illuminated at night. The steel wave will constantly change colours. In addition, the crossing will be musical. Motion sensors will be installed on it and music will be turned on. The new bridge is designed in compliance with accessibility standards for people with reduced mobility. Video surveillance will be installed for security. Improvement works will be carried out on Obolonsky Island while causing minimal interference in the natural landscape.
