On the Crimean bridge, heavy-load tests of the railway part of the structure began. As reported in the information center "Crimean bridge", at the moment, dynamic and static tests of load-bearing elements of the railway part are being conducted.

“Now we are observing how the structures outside and inside feel under the influence of external factors - atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity, wind, wave and other loads. We also check the reaction of supports and spans to simulated loads in real time, ”explained the director of the Research Institute of Diagnostics Svetlana Bokhanova.

According to her, builders check tensile and compressive stresses that will arise during the operation of the railway part of the bridge.

Technically, the tests consist in launching special trains along the tracks, consisting of a locomotive and 23 hopper cars with crushed stone. The total weight of the composition is 2.4 thousand tons. Such improvised freight trains move according to different scenarios: they are dispersed, sharply or smoothly braked, left motionless for 15 minutes. At this time, special sensors take readings from the supports and spans, and then transmit this information to an automated system for processing and storage. The data obtained during the tests are compared with the indicators laid down during the design.

Monitoring system

As noted, a comprehensive program for monitoring engineering systems and structures was specially developed for the construction of the Crimean bridge. When installing arches on supports of more than 100 sensors, the accuracy of this process was recorded. Such systems are an innovation in domestic bridge building.

The operation of the bridge will also be monitored by sensors. As explained in the information center "Crimean Bridge", 45 devices are installed on the highway arch, which monitor its condition around the clock. The received data goes to the Bridge Production Control Center.

“Monitoring showed that no excess of the calculated parameters of stresses and deformations for the period of operation of the bridge (17 months) was recorded. The results of many months of observations confirm the structural reliability of the structure and its compliance with all the parameters laid down by the project with a guarantee for 100 years, ”the information center explained.

In September, it was reported that automatic control and train control systems had also begun to be mounted on the railway part. Data on the condition of the tracks will be transmitted to the cabs of locomotives, as well as at Taman-Passenger and Kerch-Yuzhnaya stations.

“Strategic Importance”

State Duma deputy from Sevastopol Dmitry Belik in an interview with RT noted that the opening of the railway part of the Crimean bridge is primarily of economic importance for the peninsula.

“The opening of the railway part of the Crimean bridge carries a sacred meaning. To be honest, the railway network is the country's main economic artery. It involves the transfer of large volumes of goods, the transportation of strategic equipment, and the transfer of troops. The opening of the railway part of the bridge is of strategic importance for the inhabitants of the peninsula and will allow us to saturate our market with the necessary cargo and goods, ”Belik explained.

Recall that the characteristics of the bridge will allow the railway to operate in the subway mode. This means that passenger trains will be able to pass every 2.5 minutes, freight trains - every 4.1 minutes. The average speed will be from 120 to 180 km / h.

"Logistic integration of the peninsula"

Crimean political scientist Vladislav Ganzhara, for his part, notes that the launch of the railway will affect many areas of the peninsula’s life.

“The launch of the second part of the Crimean bridge will mark the final completion of the logistical integration of the peninsula into the Russian Federation, it will allow solving a rather wide range of issues. On the one hand, the flow of tourists will increase, and on the other, we understand that freight transportation will have a serious effect on the economy of Crimea, ”he told RT.

The political scientist also noted that railway communication will affect pricing and the availability of various goods and materials.

“And this is politically important, since we know how much skepticism continues to be heard about the Crimean bridge, it has always been the object of various fake news,” Ganzhara emphasized.

He is sure that the commissioning of the railway part will happen on time, "the deadlines will be met, and the bridge will work when it was planned in December 2019."

Builders confirm that all work is going according to plan. Currently, architectural illumination of the fairway section, installation of local treatment facilities, construction of buildings for the operation service is being mounted at the facility. The installation of alarms, centralization and blocking devices is also planned. According to the Ministry of Transport, the movement of freight trains on the Crimean bridge will begin in June 2020.