ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 21. Construction has begun on a new railway bridge over the Syr Darya River, marking a key milestone in the implementation of the Darbaza–Maktaaral railway line, Trend reports, citing Kazakhstan Railways.
Preparatory work is underway at the site, where the future 500-meter bridge will span the Syr Darya. The broader 152-kilometer railway project is progressing rapidly, with intensified activity on the section from Erdaut station to the river floodplain. Over six million cubic meters of roadbed—roughly half the planned volume—have already been laid, alongside continued installation of supporting infrastructure.
A total of 35 bridges and 135 pipes will be constructed. At Arys station, 105 kilometers of track and sleeper grid have been pre-assembled and are ready for installation. More than 600 specialists and over 300 pieces of heavy machinery are currently engaged in the work.
The project, initiated by a directive from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, aims to enhance Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics network. Once completed, the new line will relieve pressure on the heavily used Saryagash–Tashkent corridor and improve export capacity toward Central Asia. Importantly, it will also provide a direct rail connection between the Maktaaral and Zhetysay districts and the national railway grid—eliminating the need to transit through Uzbekistan.
Completion is scheduled for 2026.
