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Putin Officially Opens Massive Bridge Linking Crimea To Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 15 officially unveiled a 19-kilometer-long road bridge linking the annexed Crimean Peninsula with Russian territories across the Kerch Strait. Construction of the bridge, which can carry up to 40,000 cars a day, started in 2016. It was originally expected to open in December but was finished ahead of schedule. A railway bridge is due to be completed by the end of 2019.

Ukraine has condemned the project, which cost 228 billion rubles ($3.7 billion). Sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States have targeted those involved in the bridge, including businessman Arkady Rotenberg, a close Putin ally whose company won the construction contract.

The bridge surpasses the Vasco de Gama bridge in Portugal as the longest in Europe.

(Gallery updated on May 15, 2018)​
People near the Russian town of Taman look out in July 2016 over the construction of the Kerch bridge, snaking 19 kilometers toward Crimea. A crew of around 5,000 people are working around the clock on the project, which began in May 2015. 
1 People near the Russian town of Taman look out in July 2016 over the construction of the Kerch bridge, snaking 19 kilometers toward Crimea. A crew of around 5,000 people are working around the clock on the project, which began in May 2015. 
Arkady Rotenberg (center) visits the construction site. The construction magnate won the multibillion-dollar contract to build the bridge in 2015. Rotenberg is a childhood friend of Vladimir Putin and has amassed enormous personal wealth, mostly through construction contracts awarded by the Russian state. He was sanctioned by the European Union and the United States for his role in the Ukraine crisis.
2 Arkady Rotenberg (center) visits the construction site. The construction magnate won the multibillion-dollar contract to build the bridge in 2015. Rotenberg is a childhood friend of Vladimir Putin and has amassed enormous personal wealth, mostly through construction contracts awarded by the Russian state. He was sanctioned by the European Union and the United States for his role in the Ukraine crisis.
A photo from July 31, 2017, shows the main archways of the bridge near completion. 
3 A photo from July 31, 2017, shows the main archways of the bridge near completion. 
The twin 227-meter-long arches are prepared for placement. The arch on the left will support two railway lines, while the other will carry four lanes of automobile traffic. 
4 The twin 227-meter-long arches are prepared for placement. The arch on the left will support two railway lines, while the other will carry four lanes of automobile traffic. 
An engineer watches a scale model of the bridge being towed through a wind tunnel.
5 An engineer watches a scale model of the bridge being towed through a wind tunnel.
The arches straddle this gap in the bridge, designed to allow ships to pass beneath. Critics of the project say the planned 35-meter clearance under the bridge will be dangerously tight during stormy weather. Previous, stalled plans for a bridge across the strait called for clearance of at least 50 meters. 
6 The arches straddle this gap in the bridge, designed to allow ships to pass beneath. Critics of the project say the planned 35-meter clearance under the bridge will be dangerously tight during stormy weather. Previous, stalled plans for a bridge across the strait called for clearance of at least 50 meters. 
In May 2017, divers tasked with scouring the seabed for explosives that could endanger the bridge discovered a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk downed during World War II. In 1945, a bridge connecting Crimea and the Russian mainland was completed but collapsed after an ice floe crunched into the hastily made structure. 
7 In May 2017, divers tasked with scouring the seabed for explosives that could endanger the bridge discovered a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk downed during World War II. In 1945, a bridge connecting Crimea and the Russian mainland was completed but collapsed after an ice floe crunched into the hastily made structure. 
In a shopping mall in central Moscow, an exhibition tells the story of the Kerch bridge's construction. Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea won the country international condemnation but caused a wave of patriotic fervor inside Russia that carried President Vladimir Putin to approval ratings of 83 percent.
8 In a shopping mall in central Moscow, an exhibition tells the story of the Kerch bridge's construction. Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea won the country international condemnation but caused a wave of patriotic fervor inside Russia that carried President Vladimir Putin to approval ratings of 83 percent.
A mockup of a section of the bridge is seen in a wind tunnel. The Kerch Strait is a notoriously difficult place to build, with undersea mud volcanoes, seismic activity, and drifting ice floes in winter.
9 A mockup of a section of the bridge is seen in a wind tunnel. The Kerch Strait is a notoriously difficult place to build, with undersea mud volcanoes, seismic activity, and drifting ice floes in winter.
An aerial view by photographer Stanislav Zaburdayev made with a drone in July 2017.
10 An aerial view by photographer Stanislav Zaburdayev made with a drone in July 2017.
An engineer works as waves slap a pontoon. With the stakes high, Russian resources poured into the project. According to a New Yorker report, the building of new automobile roads in Russia was "practically suspended" while the Kerch bridge construction went ahead. 
11 An engineer works as waves slap a pontoon. With the stakes high, Russian resources poured into the project. According to a New Yorker report, the building of new automobile roads in Russia was "practically suspended" while the Kerch bridge construction went ahead. 
Newlyweds perch on a freshly installed bench overlooking the Crimean end of the bridge.
12 Newlyweds perch on a freshly installed bench overlooking the Crimean end of the bridge.
Views of the bridge taken in April and May 2018
13 Views of the bridge taken in April and May 2018
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A test of the bridge's lighting
18 A test of the bridge's lighting
A lone vehicle drives down the Crimean Bridge prior to the opening ceremonies on May 15.
19 A lone vehicle drives down the Crimean Bridge prior to the opening ceremonies on May 15.
Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a Kamaz truck across the bridge on May 15 to officially open the span.
20 Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a Kamaz truck across the bridge on May 15 to officially open the span.
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