Shahin Mustafayev: "New bridge over Astarachay to be completed in 2022"

The construction of a new road bridge over the Astarachay is expected to be completed by the end of this year, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev told reporters after a meeting with Rostam Ghasemi, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Co-Chair of the Iran-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, Report informs.

"Today, together with the Iranian side, we will lay the foundation of a new road bridge over the Astarachay to be built as soon as possible by the end of this year," he said.

A protocol on the construction of the bridge between Azerbaijan and Iran was signed at today's meeting. The foundation of the bridge will be laid today. Azerbaijani and Iranian officials will attend the groundbreaking ceremony.

The volume of bilateral and transit cargo transportation by road between Azerbaijan and Iran has increased in recent years. Due to the expiration of the existing road bridge over the Astarachay, there is a need to build a new road bridge and pedestrian crossing over the Astarachay in the territory of Astara (Azerbaijan) -Astara (Islamic Republic of Iran) border checkpoint.