Preparations have begun in Kyiv for the installation of at least two mobile bridges across the Dnipro. These are intended to provide a backup link between the right and left banks should the main crossings be damaged by Russian strikes. According to MP Volodymyr Kreidenko, Western partners are helping to secure the necessary structures, and the project is expected to take three to four months to complete.
Briefly about the main points
- At least two backup crossings over the Dnieper are being prepared in the capital.
- Bridges are needed to allow movement between the banks in the event that the main bridges are damaged.
- The combination of pontoon and prefabricated metal structures is being considered.
- The partners have not yet confirmed that the handover of all the necessary structures has been completed.
- In an emergency, priority will be given to emergency services, transport and essential goods.
The crossings are designed to operate in an emergency
Mobile bridges They are not intended to replace the entire system of crossings in Kyiv, but are designed to maintain transport links in the event of damage to the main bridges. They are planned to be used as a backup route between the banks of the Dnipro.
In the event of an emergency, priority will be given to emergency services, public transport and the transport of critical goods. Whether lorries, buses and other heavy vehicles are permitted to pass will depend on the load-bearing capacity of the specific structures.
Pontoon and prefabricated structures are being considered
According to Kraydenka, Kyiv is considering combined crossings that could combine pontoon structures with prefabricated metal sections. These can be installed more quickly than building permanent bridges.
The MP noted that, with proper preparation, metal spans measuring 50–100 metres in length can be installed in around five to six weeks. In Dnipro, where longer crossings are required, the work will take longer.
American and Western European partners are helping to secure equipment as part of international technical assistance. However, it has not yet been confirmed that the handover of all the necessary equipment has been completed.
The schedule depends on the access points, support structures and the delivery of structural components
The estimated timeframe for the project is between three and four months, so, based on this schedule, the crossings could be operational by early 2027. No exact completion date has been announced.
The pace of work will be influenced by the preparation of access roads and pylons, the delivery of steel structures and the approval of engineering solutions. On 15 October, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Resolution No. 1295 on the special procedure for the construction of combined water crossings and access roads to them under martial law.
The document provides for the involvement of the military command, state bodies and local authorities in such projects.
The capacity will not be sufficient to meet the needs of the whole city
Kraydenko emphasised that the two backup crossings would not fully meet the capital’s transport needs. Around 600,000 vehicles use the existing bridges across the Dnieper every day.
A benchmark has been set for the new structures: to ensure that they provide at least half the capacity of the existing bridges. This is the project’s objective, not a confirmed technical specification for the future crossings.
At the same time, Kyiv is preparing alternative supply routes
The city is also considering the use of ferries, rail transport and alternative routes to deliver essential goods. Separate provision must be made to supply the population with food, medicines and fuel in the event of a prolonged disruption to road transport.
As of 27 October, the mobile bridge project is at the preparatory stage. The locations of the future crossings are not being disclosed for security reasons, and the final timetable will depend on the readiness of the infrastructure and the delivery of the structures.
