Construction of bridges for the APEC-2012 summit has been launched in Primorye
In 2008, two major construction projects began in Primorye: a bridge across the strait of Bosfor Vostochny to the Island of Russky, the 2012 APEC summit venue, and a bridge across the bay of Zolotoi Rog, built in the framework of the federal programme for regional development.
The 25th of July will be remembered by Primorye residents for the huge traffic jams caused by construction road blocks. That day, the bulldozers of the Pacific Bridge-Building Company began tunnelling works for the future project of the century - the bridge across the bay (bay bridge). Soon after that, another construction project, a bridge to the island of Russky, was started by the project contractor USK Most (Moscow) and the subcontractor NPO Mostovik (Omsk).
Nikolai Ashlapov, the former Head of the Rosstroy Far East Directorate (state construction agency), reassured the doubtful residents that "the project completion deadlines are tight, but feasible."
Still, residents were not convinced, and for good reason. First of all, the regional government awarded the contract for the construction of a unique bay bridge to a local firm lacking appropriate experience for the job. Second of all, the city of Vladivostok has not had a general layout for 18 years; and without a layout, the construction was illegal. Besides this, the scheme of the summit facilities was only approved in autumn.
In addition, major issues remained to be unresolved: how to transport construction materials to the island; where to find thousands of workers for the project; what use the hotels will have after the summit is over. Underdeveloped infrastructure, an obsolete airport, absence of treatment facilities, unattractive waterfront, and the need for a new waste disposal site - these issues doubled the estimated summit preparation cost for 2007 (284 billion roubles - NG).
The federal Government nonetheless approved the new estimate, issuing the following statement: "For the state, the priority is the region's development, and not hosting prestigious events like the APEC summit." Even though funding was approved, it turned out afterwards that other federally funded regional development projects, including the Opera House and the Aquarium, would be underfunded as a result.
Regional Development Minister Viktor Basargin proposed reducing the 65 billion rouble deficit (25 billion roubles for transport infrastructure and 40 billion for energy infrastructure projects) through some "technical solutions." Following Basargin's visit to the region, developers decided to drop the construction of VIP villas. Later, they suggested two more cost-cutting measures: laying the high voltage cable to the island along the bridge instead of the sea bed and dropping the planned tunnel construction when building the road from the town of Novy across the De Friz peninsula to the Patrokl Bay. These cutbacks would save around 14 billion roubles. As for the Aquarium, funds for its construction were secured by Prime Minister Putin. After his visit to Kozmino, the oil company Transneft, which is building the eastbound pipeline, agreed to partially finance the Aquarium construction.
Against a backdrop of continuous assurances that Vladivostok would be the venue for the APEC summit and that large amounts of money had been allocated for the construction projects, scandal erupted in the region.
Governor Sergei Darkin's position became very shaky and people in Primorye expected his imminent resignation. In the end, the Governor was able to weather the storm, although controllers started paying frequent visits to the region. Prime Minister Putin arrived on the last day of summer and ordered the developers to ensure a "gold- and diamond-free" construction. Regional Development Minister Dmitry Kozak issued a warning that misappropriation of funds "would be regarded as looting."
Finally, work has gotten underway: the excavations over the completed tunnel are being refilled and promises have been made to reopen the roads in downtown Vladivostok by the New Year. In the Patrokla district, a construction site is being prepared for the bridge to the island of Russky. Local media are extolling it as the project of the century.
The work at the construction sites is proceeding in two shifts, and already workers from Khabarovsk and Omsk are complaining as they start their night shift: where are the promised salaries worthy of the "project of the century"? For 15,000 roubles a month a worker can hardly support himself, let alone pass some funds on to his family. Residents of the buildings that will be torn down as part of the construction project are wary of their imminent relocation. They are worried that the relocation compensation will barely cover the cost of buying housing in a Vladivostok suburb.
Unlike those in the city who merely waited until the last moment before vacating their apartments, the residents of the island opted for a more active form of protest. They sent a letter of complaint to the President and even broke through the security lines to ask Regional Development Minister Basargin for help. Nonetheless, their relocation issue has yet to be resolved.