Kyiv to start building backup Dnieper River crossings this week

Kyiv plans to begin constructing backup crossings over the Dnieper River this week, in preparation for potential damage to existing bridges, according to Ukrainian Minister of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport Mykola Kalashnyk. The proposed solutions include a dam and a pontoon crossing, both of which can be built rapidly.

This initiative has already commenced following a coordination meeting with the president, where all necessary assignments were distributed, considering the critical nature of the work. Kalashnyk clarified that the city did not undertake this task alone, and now, the ministry, the Restoration Agency, and the military, alongside Kyiv authorities, will collaborate to execute the plan.

It is estimated that the construction of such crossings could take up to three months, with the structures needing to provide at least half the capacity of the existing bridges. Looking ahead, the minister hinted at the consideration of rapidly assembled concrete structures and even a tunnel under the Dnieper in the longer term.

The cost of these extensive projects is projected to reach tens of billions of hryvnias, hence the plan to involve international partners in their implementation. Nevertheless, Kalashnyk emphasized that the priority remains safeguarding the existing bridges from Russian attacks and swiftly restoring them if they sustain damage.