Estonia Invests €1 Million in the Restoration of the Main Bridge in the City of Malyn

The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and the Zhytomyr Region of Ukraine, have signed a cooperation agreement to finance renovation of the Malyn Bridge, which has been destroyed in the war. The overhaul of the 152-metre bridge in the centre of Malyn will cost €2.9 million, of which Estonia will contribute €1 million and Ukraine €1.9 million. The cooperation agreement was signed by Andrea Kivi, Acting Executive Director of ESTDEV and Vitaliy Bunechko, Governor of the Zhytomyr Region.

The renovation of the bridge involves replacement of the main beams of the bridge span structures, repairs to the existing pillars, a monolithic slab foundation, a new deck built with proper lighting, and repairs to the barriers on either side of the bridge.

“During the overhaul, the bridge’s deck will also be widened to include a path for pedestrians and bicycles,” added Tarmo Needo, Head of ESTDEV’s Infrastructure Development Programme in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s restoration of the bridge began in June of last year, announcing a public tender to find a general contractor. PBC Limited, which won the tender, began construction on 1. September 2022.

Last week, ESTDEV and Andreas Papp, bridge engineer from Stricto Project OÜ, visited the city of Malyn. “Now that I am familiar with the construction necessary for the bridge, I have full confidence that the project is in good hands,” confirmed Papp.

The Malyn Bridge was destroyed in a bombing by the Russian army on the night of 6th of March 2022. The bridge, first built in 1965, was one of the most critical transport hubs in the city of Malyn.

The reconstructed bridge is planned to open in September 2023.