Start of Bridge Launching over the Kirzhach River on the M-12 Highway

Stroytransgaz Group is implementing construction of Phase 1 of the M-12 highway in the Moscow and Vladimir Regions. The superstructure launching has started at one of the longest artificial structures of the phase – the bridge over the Kirzhach River.

The bridge over the Kirzhach River is one of the longest bridges at the M-12 highway Phase 1. It is situated near Gorodishchi Urban-Type Settlement. The bridge is 268 m long and 24.6 m wide. Each side will provide for 2 lanes for vehicles.

The artificial structure will rest on 8 reinforced concrete supports, separate for each traffic direction. At present, supports from 1 to 6 have already been completed in full for both directions, a pile foundation has been laid for the seventh support.

Due to the high readiness of supports, the superstructure launching works have started. Works on slipway installation for the metal superstructure (left side) pre-assembly have been completed. The launching nose and the first blocks of the metal superstructure have been assembled.

The superstructure is assembled on the bank, then with the help of power hydraulic cylinders it is launched into the span to the design position. The works currently performed refer to the zero phase; in total, there will be 7 phases.

To date, the superstructure has been launched from the left bank (towards Moscow) by 7 meters.

To ensure erosion protection of the road approach embankments located on the actively eroded banks of the Kirzhach River, the project provides for installation of retaining walls – embankments. Works on their construction are performed in parallel with the construction of the main bridge crossing. At the moment, the sheet piling has been driven, and anchor wall concreting is nearing completion.

The М-12 highway construction is in fast forward. Stroytransgaz Group is going to complete works on km 48 out of 80 km of Phase 1 by the year end. The work progress is regularly supervised by Vyacheslav Petrovich Petushenko, Chairman of the Management Board of Avtodor Group, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Avdeev, Acting Governor of the Vladimir Region; and Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation has recently made an inspection flight.

Yesterday M.V. Mishustin (Government of the Russian Federation) at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers said that extra RUB 50 billion will be allocated to speed up the M-12 highway construction.