Support The Moscow Times!

Chinese Investors Propose Underwater Tunnel to Crimea

The tunnel would take about 2 1/2 years to build, during which time construction would not interfere with ferry traffic on the water's surface. Wikicommons

Instead of the bridge that was expected, Chinese investors have proposed building a high-tech underwater tunnel under the Kerch Strait to Crimea, the region's Deputy Prime Minister Yevgeniya Bavykina told news agency Kryminform.

"[Chinese investors] proposed building an underwater tunnel instead of a bridge, what's more, one that does not disturb the bottom [of the strait]," Bavykina said last week.

The tunnel would enclose two railroads and a six-lane highway, she said. The proposal comes from a Chinese state construction company that has built a comparable three-kilometer tunnel in Macau, on which the four-kilometer tunnel under the Kerch Strait would be modeled.

As for the project's financing, Bavykina said that the proposal was "significantly cheaper than other designs" and would not require any Russian investment up front.

"The financing would come from the Bank of China, so Russia would not have to invest anything now, the government's guarantee to return the money according to a certain schedule would be enough," she said.

The tunnel would take about 2 1/2 years to build, during which time construction would not interfere with ferry traffic on the water's surface, she said.

There is currently no direct road connection between Russia and Crimea, meaning that other than air travel, ferries are the only available mode of transport.

Construction experts hired by state road builder Avtodor said previously that building a bridge across the Kerch Strait would cost about 283 billion rubles ($8 billion), a burden expected to fall largely or entirely on the shoulders of Russia's state budget.

See also:

Russian Inmates to Build Bridge to Crimea

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more