Russia's Deputy Prime Minister marks major step in delivery of Sochi 2014 Winter Games

5/27/2009

Dmitry Kozak – Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – today marked the beginning of construction of a major system of tunnels between Adler and the Кrasnaya Polyana mountains. These tunnels will play a key role in the delivery of the road and railway that will connect the Sochi 2014 Coastal Cluster with the ski venues in the Mountain Cluster.

The ceremony was also attended by Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways – a major contractor in this development. He and other dignitaries pressed a button to start this major construction project, which will include the boring of three 2km-plus tunnels. The event is a major milestone in the delivery of Russia’s first Winter Games.

This system of tunnels, located near Ahshtyr, a village in the Adler district of Sochi, will consist of a 2.2km road tunnel, a 2.5km rail tunnel and a 2.3km escape tunnel. In total, the 50km road and railway that will play a vital role in Sochi 2014, will include 26.5km of road, rail and escape tunnels and more than 35km of bridges and trestles.

Drilled using the LOVAT boring machine – an incredible 200-ton devise that was flown to Sochi on several flights of the huge Ruslan cargo plane – the tunnels will progress at an impressive rate of more than 300 meters per month. For tunnels’ construction 5 drilling complexes will be used.

Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, said: "The infrastructural developments being achieved demonstrate the impetus being brought to the entire Sochi region by the Olympic and Paralympic project. This kind of innovation will enhance quality of life for the area’s residents, and increase convenience for visitors.”

"The first major stage of construction for the most complex Sochi 2014 Olympic facilities has begun. This involves work on a huge scale, including the development of temporary access roads as well as the electricity and water supplies necessary for highways construction. More than 15,000 Sochi residents are already benefitting from improved transport links as work continues”.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO of Sochi 2014, said: “I am proud that construction has commenced on this important project. Following the recent visit of the IOC Coordination Commission to Sochi, this is yet more validation that Sochi 2014 is on track to deliver an innovative Games in 2014. Following construction, travel between Adler and Krasnaya Polyana will take only 30 minutes by train and 40 minutes by road making Sochi 2014’s plan the most compact in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”.

The entire joint road and rail development linking Adler with Alpika Service will be completed in 2013, ahead of Sochi staging Russia’s first Winter Games in 2014.

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