RT: Europe’s longest: Putin leads column of trucks at Crimean bridge opening ceremony (VIDEO)
A new 19km bridge connecting the mainland with the Crimean Peninsula has been officially opened, making Russia the host of Europe’s longest bridge. President Vladimir Putin personally drove a truck across it to mark the occasion.
The opening of the bridge was all about the people, who created the massive construction in record time. A column of dozens of heavy-duty vehicles including hauler trucks, construction cranes and cement-mixers buzzed along, occasionally tooting their horns. Putin, who showed up for the ceremonial trip unusually dressed in casual style, drove one of the two Kamaz trucks in the front of the motorcade. His usual entourage was literally sidelined, keeping at a distance on the other half of the road.
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Update #1: WATCH Opening Ceremony of Crimean Bridge in Russia (Sputnik)
Update #2: Putin lauds Kerch Strait Bridge’s ‘historic’ opening as ‘a miracle come true’ (TASS)
WNU Editor: There were a few moments where I thought Putin was going to crash the dump-truck .... but I noticed that the driver of the truck beside him made sure to get out of the way when he was coming to close. This 19km bridge was completed in 3 years .... 6 months ahead of schedule. Besides the direct access to Russia that Crimeans now have, this bridge has electrical transmission lines from Russia directly to Crimea. The biggest beef that I have heard among Crimeans since breaking away from Ukraine has been the sporadic electricity blackouts. No more now.
