Iran, Azerbaijan launch cross-border bridge to ease transit of goods

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 ...