OREANDA-NEWS. July 22, 2010. Russian Railways is speeding up construction of the main infrastructure project for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi – the combined road and rail route linking Adler and the Alpika-Service mountain resort, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

In line with requirements set down by the International Olympic Committee, Russian Railways’ contractors are carrying out tunneling work at six tunnel complexes on the mountain route. To date, servicing-evacuation tunnels have been created at complex No. 1, complex No. 5, and rail tunnel No. 2. Work on the other tunnels is proceeding on schedule.

On the Adler – Alpika-Service mountain resort route, 36 rail and 31 road bridges are being built. Construction work is nearing completion on the first flyovers: the link to federal highway M-27 and the link to the A-148 road (Adler – Krasnaya Polyana), including a bridge over the Mzymta River.

The project to build the combined route includes a complete secondary track on the Sochi – Adler – Vesyoloye (Olympic Park) line, which will provide transport of passengers from Sochi city centre to the Olympic Park.

Construction of bridges over the Mzymta, Kudepsta, and Khosta rivers has been completed, along with work on a minor bridge, eight culverts, and three pedestrian tunnels. Construction of bridges over the Matsesta and Agura rivers and the Vidny stream is ongoing.

On the Adler – Vesyoloye section, construction is complete, and road vehicle traffic has been diverted to the new flyover linking to the M-27 (the Sukhumsky flyover). During the first half of this year, reconstruction work began at the Sochi, Khosta and Adler stations and passenger terminals. Work to equip the new Olympic stations of the Imeretin resort and the Olympic Park is underway.

The construction of the combined route linking Adler and the Alpika-Service mountain resort is taking place in an area without engineering infrastructure, with the result that Russian Railways has had to spend substantial resources on building temporary roads, power lines, engineering bridges, construction bases, and workers’ accommodation sites.
 
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Environmental projects as part of infrastructure development for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi
Russian Railways is placing a major emphasis on environmental protection issues in building the main transport structure of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi – the combined road and rail route linking Adler and the Alpika-Service mountain resort. The combined route passes through the Sochi National Park, necessitating a careful approach to construction work.

To protect local flora, Russian Railways has re-planted more than 8,000 rare and endangered plants. To protect boxwood groves, a change was made to the rail line plans, so that a flyover is being built instead of an embankment. In the 37th quarter of the Vesyoloye forest area, more than 47,000 trees have been planted.

Mitigation efforts to protect aquatic biological resources are continuing. At the start of July 2010, more than 20,000 Black Sea salmon fry were released. To protect bird habitats, artificial nests have been created, and efforts are being taken to protect existing nesting and feeding sites. Special crossings will be built for migrating animals on sections of the open highway.