The blended cross-border corridor linking Blagoveshchensk in Russia with Heihe in China has begun to operate with an established tariff that will set the average fare for a standard car at 8,700 rubles. The official figure was announced in a formal briefing tied to the opening of the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe bridge, underscoring a planned fiscal framework that aims to support long-term infrastructure use and regional development. The information was conveyed by Vasily Orlov, the Governor of the Amur Region, who has emphasized that the pricing is part of a carefully structured concession approach rather than a profit-driven scheme. According to his remarks, the payment model envisions a 20-year period during which the bridge’s construction and ongoing maintenance will be funded. After the initial amortization phase, maintenance costs will set the floor for future tariffs, ensuring prices remain closely aligned with the real upkeep requirements of the crossing. The overarching message from regional authorities is that the bridge is meant to catalyze trade and growth, rather than to extract high profits, and that any tariff adjustments will be grounded in the cost of keeping the bridge in reliable condition.
Authorities highlighted that the bridge is designed to serve as a durable infrastructure asset—an anchor for commerce and regional integration rather than a quick financial win. The concession arrangement is described as a long-term investment in connectivity, aiming to facilitate smoother and more predictable cross-border movement for both vehicles and freight. This perspective frames the project as a strategic public asset intended to spur industrial activity, encourage local business, and attract new logistics opportunities along the Amur River corridor. The economic rationale centers on predictable user charges that cover maintenance and service quality, with room for tariff normalization over time as the debt is repaid and operating costs stabilize.
Prior to this milestone, traffic began to flow over the first automobile bridge linking Russia and China, marking a historic step in bilateral transport ties. The initial phase saw limited but meaningful use, demonstrating the bridge’s potential to shorten routes, reduce travel times, and facilitate efficient border procedures for vehicles crossing in either direction. The early rollout is being watched closely by regional planners and industry observers who expect the infrastructure to unlock new patterns of commerce and tourism, while also enhancing supply chain resilience in the border region.
In a notable early use case, the first trucks crossed the border via the Kani-Kurgan-Heihe checkpoint. A convoy of eight Russian trucks belonging to the Gazprom Helium Service fleet ventured toward China, showcasing a cross-border logistics capability that aligns with the fuel transition strategy seen in several Eurasian supply chains. These vehicles ran on liquefied natural gas, a cleaner-burning option aimed at reducing emissions and aligning with contemporary environmental goals in large-scale trucking operations. The demonstration underscored how the new bridge can support specialized freight flows while maintaining a focus on sustainability and efficiency, a combination that is increasingly valued by manufacturers and logistics providers operating across this corridor.
China’s side of the border also reported freight movements—specifically, crossings of cross-border goods including tires and electrical parts. This early activity points to a diversified mix of cargo that could strengthen bilateral trade links as traffic volumes grow. The variety of goods moving across the bridge signals a broader potential for manufacturing supply chains to synchronize more tightly, with components and finished products moving more quickly between the two nations. For policymakers and industry players, the early freight patterns offer a useful indicator of how the link will function at scale, and they support projections that the bridge will help reduce transit times, streamline customs processes, and improve reliability for cross-border logistics.