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Russian city of Vladivostok unveils record-breaking suspension bridge Russian city of Vladivostok unveils record-breaking suspension bridge
(about 3 hours later)
It's got rolling hills and a seaside view. Now, with a new gigantic cable bridge, the far eastern city of Vladivostok has come one step closer to realising the dream of becoming Russia's San Francisco. It's got rolling hills and a seaside view. Now, with a gigantic new cable bridge, the far eastern city of Vladivostok has come one step closer to realising the dream of becoming Russia's San Francisco.
Never mind the ubiquitous construction cranes or gangland-style killings, accusations of corruption and shoddy work – for now the city is basking in the glory of being home to one of the world's longest suspension bridges.Never mind the ubiquitous construction cranes or gangland-style killings, accusations of corruption and shoddy work – for now the city is basking in the glory of being home to one of the world's longest suspension bridges.
"It is just a beautiful structure, embodying the genius of engineering," Dmitry Medvedev, the prime minister, said at the bridge's opening ceremony, flanked by men in yellow helmets. "It is just a beautiful structure, embodying the genius of engineering," Dmitry Medvedev, the prime minister, said at the bridge's opening ceremony on Monday.
The bridge spans 1,185 metres (3,887ft) from Vladivostok to Russky (Russian) Island, whose 5,000 inhabitants had, until now, been cut off from the mainland. The section suspended by cables – 1,104 metres – is the longest in the world, beating China's Sutong bridge by 16 metres. The bridge spans 1,185 metres (3,887ft) from Vladivostok to Russky (Russian) Island, whose 5,000 inhabitants had until now been cut off from the mainland. The section suspended by cables – 1,104 metres – is the longest in the world, beating China's Sutong bridge by 16 metres.
The bridge is already being praised as a national treasure and the city's "calling card". The bridge is being hailed as a national treasure and the city's "calling card".
"Everything was correct," Medvedev said at the ceremony, according to RIA-Novosti news agency, commenting on the bridge's Russian contractors. "Foreigners can't be trusted to do things well. Perhaps unfortunately, we can't build houses, but we can definitely build such structures.""Everything was correct," Medvedev said at the ceremony, according to RIA-Novosti news agency, commenting on the bridge's Russian contractors. "Foreigners can't be trusted to do things well. Perhaps unfortunately, we can't build houses, but we can definitely build such structures."
A massive construction boom has hit Vladivostok as the far eastern city gets ready to host a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (Apec) on Russky Island in September. A massive construction boom has hit Vladivostok as the city gets ready to host a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (Apec) on Russky Island in September.
The summit preparations are reported to be costing more than $20bn (£12.7m), with an estimated $1.1bn (£700m) going to the bridge alone. Critics of Russia's corruption-plagued government have dubbed it "the bridge to nowhere". The summit preparations are reported to be costing more than $20bn (£12.7bn), with an estimated $1.1bn spent on the bridge alone. Critics of Russia's corruption-plagued government have dubbed it "the bridge to nowhere". "Everything that we've done in the past few years is, of course, linked to the summit," Medvedev said. "But it's not for the summit – it's for you, for all who live here."
"Everything that we've done in the past few years is, of course, linked to the summit," Medvedev said. "But it's not for the summit – it's for you, for all who live here." Preparations for the summit have been plagued by poor construction, cost overruns and murder. Last month, a new road leading to the bridge was washed away by light rains, days after the director of the company overseeing the Apec construction preparations was found murdered. Sergei Krivorotov, the director of Vladstroyzakazchik, had been shot.
Preparations for the summit have been plagued by poor construction, cost overruns and murder. Last month, a new road leading to the bridge was washed away by light rains, smothering nearby garages in mud. Medvedev said on Monday: "I am confident the quality is there. Where things may be a bit poor, we will adjust it, carefully – we can also do this, you know."
The disaster came days after the director of the company overseeing the Apec construction preparations was found murdered. Sergei Krivorotov, the director of Vladstroyzakazchik, was found with fatal gunshot wounds. The bridge is being tested, and is due to open to the public on 1 August. Russia has poured billions into developing Vladivostok, often seen as its gateway to the east. As relations with Europe and the west continue to sour, it has tried to focus more on building ties with China.
Medvedev attempted to address the concerns on Monday: "I am confident the quality is there. Where things may be a bit poor, we will adjust it, carefully – we can also do this, you know." The dream of an "eastern San Francisco" is not, however, new. The former Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev compared the two cities after visiting the US in 1959. The comparison was not lost on Medvedev. "Vladivostok is probably better than San Francisco," he said on Monday. "Nevertheless there are similarities that come to mind, because there is also an ocean, suspension bridges and the similar terrain."
The bridge is in a testing phase, and is due to open to the public on 1 August. In one last dig, he added: "Our people are definitely better."
Russia has poured billions into developing Vladivostok, often seen as its gateway to the east. As relations with Europe and the west continue to sour, it has tried to focus more on building ties with China.
The dream of an "eastern San Francisco" is not, however, new. The former Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev compared the two cities after visiting the US in 1959. The comparison was not lost on Medvedev.
"Vladivostok is probably better than San Francisco," he said on Monday. "Nevertheless there are similarities that come to mind, because there is also an ocean, suspension bridges and the similar terrain." In one last dig, he added: "Our people are definitely better."