Kyiv Bridge Will Not Be Completely Closed During Renovations

The renovation work on the Kyiv Bridge in Yerevan will be conducted in stages, meaning the bridge will not be fully closed to traffic throughout the duration of the work. Tigran Geghamyan, the acting head of the Construction and Urban Improvement Department of the Yerevan City Hall, stated this in an interview with Armenpress, adding that the renovation is expected to be completed entirely in 2024.

“In our discussions, we reached an agreement that the renovation of the bridge will be staged; therefore, parts of the bridge will be closed at different times. I hope that there will be no force majeure situations that would necessitate a complete closure,” Geghamyan said.

He noted that the construction of the bridge was initially divided into two phases, with the first phase starting in 2023. According to Geghamyan, some tasks scheduled for the first phase have not been completed due to their connection with cladding, which could not be carried out due to adverse weather conditions. These tasks will also continue in 2024.

“Most of the internal work on the bridge has been completed, and this year it will continue as well. At this moment, we are waiting for the signing of the second phase agreement so that the construction workers can resume their tasks. I cannot specify the start and completion dates for the work, as the signing of the documentation is dependent on various processes, including the budget approval,” the acting head of the Construction and Urban Improvement Department explained.

He added that the second phase will include renovations to the trafficable area of the bridge and the installation of asphalt concrete cover. The refurbishment will also encompass the external surfaces of the bridge’s structural elements and the redeployment of traffic zones at transition points.

In response to a question about whether new measures would be implemented to prevent suicide attempts from the bridge, Geghamyan stated that no additional constructive changes are planned for the bridge. “There are already railings, and the installation of new ones is not currently anticipated. Regarding the prevention of the mentioned suicide attempts, I would like to note that there is permanent police supervision on the bridges,” he concluded.