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Azerbaijani architects say construction of bridge over Caspian Sea is not advisable

22 June 2012 09:10 (UTC +04:00)

According to him, the construction project of the bridge, which was designed to connect Bayil and Zigh settlements by constructing over the Baku bay, was discussed at the Urban Planning Council of the Union of Architects of the Azerbaijan Republic, with the participation of specialists of State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture. It was decided in the discussions that, it was advisable to construct not bridge but underground tunnel parallel to Baku bay.

Remind that, initial project and feasibility study of construction of this bridge was developed by Korean professionals and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. According to project, this bridge will allow cars to move directly from Zigh to Bayil or from Bayil to Zigh and decrease the traffic jam in the central streets of Baku. Length will make 17 km and worth - $2 bln.

But experts expressed that the project would not be so effective and coordinate the development concept of Baku. First of all, the car, which enters the bridge, will not be able to exit the road until the end of the bridge, and it means trouble for drivers. The second â€“ the use of this bridge will depend on weather condition. That is, the bridge can be used only when the speed of wind does not exceed 20 m per second. Such wind speed occurs in Baku bay very occasionally. The third reason â€“ the bridge will join Bayil and Zigh, whereas, Baku needs development in direction of west. So, the construction of this bridge does not coordinate with Bakuâ€™s development concept.

Instead of this, architects offer the implementation of another project. N.Eldarli says according to â€œMaster Plan of Baku Centreâ€, developed by Baku State Project Institute, it is proposed to construct underwater motor road along the Neftchiler avenue. This proposal has been reflected in the Development Concept of Baku.

The tunnel begins at the entrance of Bayil - a few hundred meters from Behramgur monument and must lengthen till the former building of the Sea Station. The tunnel will be joined with Boulevard and covered with land, and consequently, this process will increase the width of the Boulevard by 20-30 m. Along with the beginning and end of the tunnel, it is considered to launch one more exit in the tunnel. Compared to bridge, the length of the tunnel will make 3.6 km, in total.
â€œMost of the architects support this idea. The cost of the tunnel project is much lower than the cost of the proposed bridge over Baku bayâ€, noted Eldarli.