TEHRAN - Iran and Azerbaijan inaugurated a cross-border bridge over the Astarachay River to facilitate transit of goods between the two countries.

The opening ceremony of the border bridge was attended by Iranian and Azeri officials including the Co-Chairmen of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Committee and Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Iranian Minister of Transport and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash.

The border, which has been completed at a cost of €5.8 million, runs parallel to the Baku-Astara freeway up to the Astara border, the portal of the Iranian Transport Ministry reported.

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.

The construction of the bridge began in March 2022.

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.

Tehran-Baku trade ties growing continuously

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the bridge, Shahin Mustafayev said: “In the shadow of the wise management of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran, the relations between the two countries are growing and developing continuously.”

“Last year, the exchange of goods between the two countries grew by 46 percent, and transit rose by 45 percent, which is an important indicator of the development of infrastructure for transit between the two countries,” the official said.

Referring to the importance of the North-South International Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the role it plays in the growth of economic relations between the two countries, Mustafayev added: “The opening of this new Astara-Astara bridge is very important in developing economic relations, transfer and transit between the two countries.”

EF/MA