Freight pontoon bridge opens between Blagoveshchensk, Heihe
KHABAROVSK. Dec 12 (Interfax) - A freight pontoon bridge has opened in the Amur region that connects Blagoveshchensk, Russia and Heihe, China, the regional government said in a press release.
"A pontoon through Amur was installed over the course of two weeks. Movement on it could have been opened earlier, but it was moved due to prolonged ice cover," the press release said.
In addition, a special commission has decided to temporarily impose a weight restriction on the pontoon crossing to 30 tonnes due to the weather conditions. This restriction will be lifted later, after which more cargo will be able to cross the bridge, which is able to sustain up to 100 tonnes.
Up to 120 vehicles will be able to cross the border via this pontoon bridge every day.
There are also plans to launch a passenger pontoon floating bridge between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe by the end of this year. Prior to that, tourists were transported by hovercraft across the Amur River.