In Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), the Schneider Road Bridge across the Ulba River, which connects two parts of the city, has collapsed. Local residents are demanding punishment for both the former city leadership and the contractors involved in its repair. According to residents, officials repeatedly reported allocating hundreds of millions of tenge and assured the structure's reliability, but just a few months later, the bridge collapsed again.
According to ORDA, on 1 September at 11:50, police received a report from witnesses of the collapse. One of the central spans, measuring 16.2 metres in length, fell into the water. By lucky chance, no one was injured. Access to the bridge was closed.
It is reported that the cause of the incident was blockages of trees carried by strong currents following two days of rain. The water level in the river rose to six metres. Specialists note that the deterioration of the structure also played a significant role.
The city's mayor, Almat Akyshev, acknowledged that the incident had prompted inspections on all bridges.
"Repairs were carried out here — 600 million tenge was spent over two years. If those responsible are identified, they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We will conduct an inspection! The contractor is on site and will restore the facility under warranty obligations. We will try to restore it as quickly as possible because it relieved pressure on the city's logistics. I think the bridge will be restored within two to three months. But a commission has already been set up, and we will wait for its findings on the causes of what happened," the mayor stated.
Meanwhile, according to the Department of Emergency Situations, another 16.2-metre span is at risk of collapse. Deputy Head of the City Emergency Situations Department, Dastan Akhmetov, reported that a bridge support has already shifted.
"Wear and tear on the road surface is visually apparent. The support has also shifted. There are no casualties or injuries. Two other bridges are operational for the movement of people and vehicles, so the connection between the two districts of the city is not disrupted. A local-level emergency has been declared," he said.
It has emerged that this is not the first time the Schneider Bridge has been damaged. In November 2023, under former mayor Zhaksilyk Omar, one of the supports was also damaged. Over 600 million tenge was allocated for repairs at the time, and the facility was commissioned on 22 March 2024. The work was carried out by LLC ASIA LLP. Later, an additional 20 million tenge was allocated for the surface.
Zhaksilyk Omar publicly stated that the quality of the repairs was under his personal control. However, just a few months later, the bridge cracked again. On social media, residents have accused the former mayor and the contractors of negligence, pointing out that this is the second failure in two years.
In Oskemen, there are only three road bridges across the Ulba River. The closure of one significantly complicates the city's traffic situation. The amount needed for restoration will be determined after the commission's work.
Meanwhile, Informburo.kz reports that the collapsed bridge in Oskemen was visited by the mayor of the East Kazakhstan Region, Nurymbet Saktaganov.
"The so-called Schneider Bridge must be thoroughly examined and subjected to expert evaluation by specialists before repair. We cannot carry out a temporary repair — that is too great a risk. It's good there were no human casualties this time," the mayor said after inspecting the scene.