“It Turned out to Be a Chic Place, Upstanding, Bombastic”: STG Completes Reconstruction of the Central Embankment in Volgograd

Governor of Volgograd Oblast Andrey Bocharov, together with hundreds of citizens and guests of the region, evaluated the results of the comprehensive work on the Central Embankment reconstruction performed by Stroytransgaz JSC. A modern beautiful multifunctional space has become a real gift for all residents on the occasion of the 433rd anniversary of the hero city. On September 9, 2022, the embankment was opened as part of the celebration dedicated to the City Day. 

Representatives of the younger generation have special plans for this territory, as it was the youth who conducted the tour for the regional authorities and the municipality. “Of course, we need to look where and what locations need to be constructed so that one does not interfere with the other. Together we need to think about further steps,’ Governor Andrey Bocharov said, ‘ but the place turned out to be chic, upstanding, bombastic.’

The length of the reconstructed section is 3.5 km. In the course of a large-scale project for refurbishment of the city embankment lower terrace, Berth No.15 was rebuilt, the existing bank protection structures 2000 m long (including the surfaces of quay walls) were restored, new bank protection structures with flights of stairs (length over 1100 m) were built. Four new fountains were built, and utility systems were installed. There are a bicycle path and skate spots with special coating for active recreation, and a sidewalk network with a total length of 18 km for walking. The lower terrace features a new lighting, video surveillance and public address system, as well as a parking lot for over 300 vehicles.

Upon completion of reconstruction, the open amphitheatre and a stage of 650 sq. m for 2,300 seats, with a bridge crossing through the connecting road, became the central facility of the embankment. Two elevators are provided for low-mobile residents to get to the amphitheatre.

“I consider the opening of the renovated embankment and the amphitheatre a very significant event. I remember that this embankment has been just a wasteland since my childhood. It was difficult to walk through the embankment as it was covered with overgrown vegetation. There was no place to walk with children and grandchildren. And now it's just a play-song, a celebration! I can already imagine how we will listen to a symphony orchestra on the stage of the new amphitheatre, watching the ships sailing by,” Tatyana Spiridonova, 75, shared her impressions of the renovated embankment. She stressed that this transformation was dedicated to the anniversary year – the 80th anniversary of the Stalingrad Victory. After the battle on the Volga, people restored the city with their own hands, and each generation makes a contribution to the improvement of their native land.

The landscaped lower terrace of the embankment became part of a common recreation area along the Volga bank from the Mamai Kurgan to the flood plain of the Tsaritsa River. It already encompasses the territory near the Volgograd Arena stadium (built by Stroytransgaz for the FIFA 2018 World Cup), Victory Park, the upgraded upper terrace of the city embankment, and a park near the “Russia – My History” museum, a garden square near the Gasitel fire boat, Pushkin garden square and Pakhmutova garden square.