During the construction of the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station, 3 million cubic meters of cement were transported across this bridge, which was poured into the foundation of the dam, along with tons of metal structures, and hundreds of vehicles passed over it.
To this day, pedestrians and vehicles use this bridge. In the mornings, energy workers who work at the hydroelectric power station commute over it. Newlyweds come to the bridge for wedding photo sessions. Currently, the bridge is also a popular spot for foreign tourists to take photos. Nearby, the Kara-Suu River, which flows through the city of Kara-Kul, merges with the Naryn River.
Regarding the history of this bridge, Adyl Akmatovich Darbishev, a hydroconstructor, "Honored Citizen of the city of Kara-Kul, former deputy of the city council," shared in a comment with Turmush.
According to him, for the construction of the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station, the largest concrete plant in the country was built on the other side of the Naryn River. The start of its construction and the erection of the bridge took place in 1963. Specialists from the specialized enterprise "Andijan Bridge Train" arrived from the Uzbek SSR for the construction of the bridge. This was a company that dealt with the construction of bridges over large rivers and steep cliffs.
Subsequently, the site of this enterprise turned into a small settlement called ATK, which is now Ismailov Street. In one part of the settlement, many parts of the bridge were assembled at that time, and work on concreting and pouring concrete was carried out. Retaining walls were installed on both banks, after which the construction of the bridge itself began.
The bridge was completed in 1966. All the equipment for the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station, reinforced concrete structures, arches, and 3 million cubic meters of concrete that were poured into the foundation of the hydroelectric power station were transported specifically across this bridge.
According to Darbishev, the concrete produced at the plant on the other side of the Naryn River needed to be transported quickly to the construction site. The bridge is located 25 meters above the river, with a length of 60 meters and a width of 12 meters. "The construction of the bridge was a complex process at that time. But the best and strongest engineers of the Soviet Union worked — Amiranov, Abdyrahmanov, Viktor Shinko. Cargo trucks of the 'KrAZ' brand drove over this bridge, and they transported concrete to the hydroelectric power station," said the hydroconstructor.
