The federal government will continue funding construction of the new bridge over the Angara in Irkutsk, avoiding another project freeze. Officials promise to open it by the end of 2009. Main concrete work is done, with paving, painting, and lighting left. On the right bank, much work and relocation of 12 houses remain, so completion is still difficult.

The regional authorities have nevertheless managed to convince the federal center of the need to finance this project. Thus, investment of federal funds in the construction of the crossing will continue. Otherwise, construction would simply have been frozen, which has happened repeatedly with the new bridge. The authorities stated that by the end of 2009 the new bridge across the Angara will be fully put into operation.
This construction has already become a byword for Irkutsk residents: the mayor’s decree on building the bridge was signed back in 1995, and construction began in August 1999. However, in 2002 the appearance of the new bridge crossing came under threat, as the road service refused to finance the project. Construction resumed only in 2005. On October 26, 2007, the official opening of the first launch complex of the bridge crossing took place. It was planned that on November 5, 2008, the facility would be fully completed, and at the same time operation of the left-bank interchange was to begin. However, at present the launch dates for the bridge crossing have been postponed to the end of 2009.
In an interview with the press, Deputy Minister of Construction and Road Management of the Irkutsk Region Rita Nizamova said that the bridge structure has been formed, and the concrete work, as scheduled, has been completed. What remains is the final asphalt paving, painting, and installation of lighting. In terms of volume, these works are small, but they require warm weather. The funds totaling 620.5 million rubles arrived at the end of last year. For 2009, another 595 million rubles from the federal budget and 644 million rubles from the regional budget are provided. This is enough both for relocating citizens whose homesteads lie within the bridge alignment and for constructing the approaches of the second launch complex.
It is assumed that on the left bank the work on the approaches and interchanges, as well as the pedestrian crossing near the Akademicheskaya railway station, will be fully completed. It will be more difficult on the right bank. The approach work there is currently being carried out by the construction company VostSibStroy, which won the tender. Its area of activity is from the bridge to Kommunisticheskaya Street. On the 800-meter section, the contractor will have to carry out a large amount of work both on the main alignment and on the ramps. The problem here is relocating residents whose houses are in the path of the main route. To reach Kommunisticheskaya Street, 12 more houses need to be resettled.
The authorities have promised Irkutsk residents more than once that the new bridge will open any moment now, but one can only hope that this year the construction epic will still be completed.