Pensioners Complete Bridge Repairs in Tyrnyauz

THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) WAS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY FOREIGN AGENT OOO "MEMO" OR CONCERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT OOO "MEMO".

Residents of Tyrnyauz have completed repairs to the pedestrian bridge across the Baksan River. They did not expect help from the authorities, stating that they cannot count on someone to come and do everything for them. However, as noted by an expert in the field of bridge construction, according to the rules, only specialists should be engaged in bridge repairs.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, elderly residents of Tyrnyauz began repairing the pedestrian bridge across the river in early September, while the mayor's office limited itself to praise and a promise to install lighting on the bridge.

On September 13, residents of Tyrnyauz told a "Kavkazsky Uzel" correspondent about the suspension bridge across the Baksan River, which local pensioners were forced to repair themselves.

This is a local-use bridge for the owners of two dozen garages

"The suspension bridge across the Baksan River is used mainly by residents of two apartment buildings, which have garages on the other bank of the river. That is, this is a bridge local use for the owners of two dozen garages. The rest of the residents, if they cross it, only to take a walk, pick sea buckthorn berries," said a local resident.

"The bridge was built during the Soviet era and has never been repaired since then. While its iron supports are still in good condition, the wooden decking has rotted and it is no longer safe to walk on. There is another suspension bridge 200 meters from this bridge, which the city authorities put in order several years ago after numerous complaints from local residents. In addition to these two bridges, there is also a concrete bridge in this location, which is considered a reserve and was used when a mudflow hit the city and the main bridge for entering the city was covered by the mudflow," he said.

When asked why they were repairing the bridge, one of the local residents, who introduced himself as Misha, said that he personally did not participate in the repair, but donated money for the repair. "We need the bridge to go to our garages. And who, if not us, will build it ourselves?" he asked.

Another resident, who also did not participate, but donated money, said that he personally does not have a garage, but supported the public initiative to have a bridge, because the residents of the house need it.

Retiree Mustafa Kuchmezov, who participated in the repair of the bridge, said that the work lasted about a month. "We first collected money, bought wood, sawed it, and then laid it," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

We both landscape the yard area ourselves and clean it ourselves. I think this is normal, because people are used to expecting someone to come and clean up after them

He does not know exactly how much money was spent on repairs, but he believes that it is not important. The money was collected by residents, and the authorities did not help them in any way. They promised to install lighting on the bridge at the expense of the city budget, but so far nothing has been done. "We both landscape the yard area ourselves and clean it ourselves. I think this is normal, because people are used to expecting someone to come and clean up after them. And they will repair the bridge for them, and do everything for them, but they themselves do not want to lift a finger,” Kuchmezov summed up.

An activist from Tyrnyauz Larisa Baragunova thinks differently. In her opinion, the city residents are forced to solve issues that the mayor’s office should solve, but does not do so.

According to Baragunova, the bridge has no city significance. This bridge is used by residents of two houses, which have garages on the other side of the river, and some have sheds where they keep goats and cows, but its repair is still the responsibility of the city authorities.

“The bridge is not on the balance sheet of the municipality, but caring for the population, creating comfortable living conditions - no one has removed this responsibility from the mayor's office,” she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

A bridge construction expert, who spoke to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on condition of anonymity, noted that the rules for labor protection and safety during bridge repairs are regulated by the "Rules for labor protection during the construction, reconstruction, repair and maintenance of bridges" adopted in 2020.

Permission must be obtained from a specialized body to carry out such work

“It also notes there, that only workers who have undergone training in occupational safety and health and have undergone an internship on the job under the supervision of persons appointed by the employer are allowed to work on the construction and repair of bridges. In addition, a responsible manager and a responsible executor of the work must be appointed. And permission must be obtained from a specialized body to carry out such work," he noted.

Violations of safety rules during construction, repair and other work, if this has resulted in the inadvertent causing of serious harm to human health or major damage, are punishable by Article 216 of the Criminal Code, which provides for a fine of up to five years' imprisonment, depending on the severity of the situation.

Touching on the situation with liability for possible damage due to poor-quality repairs, the expert noted that, in accordance with Article 723 of the Civil Code, the contractor is responsible for the poor quality of the work. If we are talking about a violation of the requirements for the safe operation of the bridge, then here, in accordance with Article 60 of the Urban Development Code, the damage is compensated by the owner of the structure. "In the first case, the organizer or organizers of the repair will be responsible, and in the second, given that the bridge still does not have an owner, there are no responsible persons," he emphasized.

At the same time, according to him, the set of rules and standards for the condition of bridges is quite accessible, so activists can know what is required of them. The expert also noted that the statement of local authorities that the bridge is not on the balance sheet is quite plausible. "There are situations when a bridge has already been built, but for some reason the procedure for its transfer has not been completed. And in this case it is considered nobody's," he emphasized.

Earlier, commenting on the situation in the city of Shakhty, where local resident Aleksandr Titov has been independently repairing potholes on city roads for several years and local officials demanded that the work be coordinated, lawyer Evgeny Trifonov stated that, according to the law, roads should be repaired by specialists. According to him, the demands of the Shakhty administration are fully justified. "There are requirements, and these requirements must be met [...] because there are safety standards," the lawyer emphasized.