EBRD backs Russian project

The 1166 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) board of directors has approved a US$260.56m loan for the construction of the central section of the Western High-Speed Diameter (WHSD) in St Petersburg by 2014. Magistral Severnoy Stolitsy (MSS) consortium must invest at least ROUBLE82.86billion (US$2.61billion) in the 11.5km stretch of mostly eight-lane motorway. The Federal Investment Fund will provide a further ROUBLE2.64billion (US$1.64billion). On completion, the total length of the motorway will be 46.6km, including 21.51km of earthworks, 2.36km of open cut, and 22.34km of engineering structures. It will feature 14 interchanges at different levels and unique bridge structures with 45m clearance over the Sea channel and 35m clearance over the Korabelny navigation channel. The structures will be the first of their type in Russia.