Iran, Azerbaijan Open Key Cross-Border Bridge to Ease Transit of Goods

Iran and Azerbaijan have inaugurated a key cross-border bridge over the Astara River to facilitate transit of goods between the two countries. The border bridge, which has been completed at a cost of 5.8 million euros, runs parallel to the Baku-Astara freeway up to the Astara border, IRNA reported on Saturday.

The construction of the bridge began in March 2022 and it was officially inaugurated by Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash and officials from Azerbaijan on Saturday.

Spanning 89 meters in length and over 30 meters in width, the bridge has four lanes for vehicles and a covered pedestrian walkway on each side. While the existing bridge in Astara is located in the old area of the city, the new bridge is connected to Azerbaijan near the railway bridge.

Along with the Astara-Astara highway, the bridge now completes the route from Astara to Baku, connecting the highway to Iran’s land routes. The bridge facilitates the transit of goods from Iran and Azerbaijan to the countries of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) and Eastern Europe. It also provides the Republic of Azerbaijan with access to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. - IRNA