One of the notable landmarks in Termez is the Friendship Bridge, a vital crossing on the southern boundary between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. This bridge links the Uzbek city of Termez with the Afghan port town of Hayraton, serving as a crucial connection between the two countries.
The site of the Friendship Bridge has a storied past. Over a century ago, it was home to both a wooden and an iron bridge spanning the Amu Darya River. The initial wooden structure was constructed under the guidance of Russian General M. Annenkov in May 1888, during the early stages of Russia’s expansion into Central Asia. At that time, the Trans-Caspian Railway was being developed, and a reliable crossing over the Amu Darya was essential for the railway’s progress.
The original wooden bridge, which extended nearly three kilometers, was reinforced with wooden piles and was considered an engineering marvel of its era. However, its lifespan was short-lived. After just 14 years of service, the bridge began to deteriorate due to the swift currents of the Amu Darya and the sandy riverbed, leading to its eventual collapse.
As the 20th century began, the Trans-Caspian Railway was rebranded as the Central Asian Railway, reflecting its expansion throughout Turkestan. The increasing traffic through the Amu Darya crossing necessitated an upgrade.
In 1902, construction commenced on a new railway bridge to replace the aging wooden structure. The Russian government allocated 5 million rubles—significant funding for that era—for this project. The construction was overseen by the renowned engineer S. Olshevsky, known for his work on large bridge projects across West Siberia and the Aral Sea. Olshevsky designed a robust railway bridge with 27 spans, which became one of the world’s largest bridges of its type at that time. The bridge was built to endure, which explains why it remained in use until its next major update 77 years later, during the Soviet era.
