The traffic jam at the manual inspection checkpoint on the Crimean Bridge from the Kerch side began forming after noon.

As of 1:00 PM, 50 cars were waiting in line to pass from the Kerch side, while there were no vehicles waiting from the Taman side. By 2:00 PM, 170 cars were stuck in traffic heading toward Kuban, and 90 vehicles were waiting toward Crimea.

From 3:00 PM, an average of 400 cars are waiting to pass—200 from each side. However, by 5:00 PM, the traffic jam from the Taman side had decreased to 150 cars, while the queue from the Kerch side increased to 300 vehicles. The estimated waiting time to cross is about one hour.

Also read: a family from Alushta traveled by car to Krasnodar on September 13, bringing along their dog named Busya. While the car was stuck in traffic before the Crimean Bridge, the owners discovered their beloved pet was missing after the vehicle had already passed the inspection checkpoint. More than 300 volunteers searched for the dog. A month later, she was found in the village of Yelizavetinskaya near Krasnodar.

Crimean Bridge

The Crimean Bridge is a 19-kilometer road and rail bridge constructed by Russia to connect the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai with the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea. It was opened in 2018, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, and is the longest bridge in Europe. The bridge holds major strategic and symbolic importance for Russia, securing a direct land connection to the peninsula.

Kerch

Kerch is a historic port city on the Kerch Peninsula in eastern Crimea, strategically located at the meeting point of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Founded by ancient Greek colonists in the 6th century BCE as Panticapaeum, it later became the capital of the Bosporan Kingdom. The city is home to significant archaeological sites, including the ancient royal burial mound of the Tsar’s Kurgan, and has been a contested territory throughout history due to its vital location.

Taman

“Taman” is a common place name in Indonesia and Malaysia, meaning “garden” or “park.” Historically, the most famous Taman is Taman Sari in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, an 18th-century royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta, which included a palace, bathing pools, and a complex water system. Today, its ruins are a popular cultural and archaeological site.

Kuban

“Kuban” refers to the Kuban region in southern Russia, a historical Cossack territory known for its fertile steppes bordering the Black Sea. Its history is deeply tied to the Kuban Cossacks, who were settled there by Catherine the Great in the late 18th century to defend the empire’s frontier. Today, it is a vital agricultural area and a popular tourist destination for its Black Sea resorts.

Crimea

Crimea is a peninsula on the Black Sea with a rich and complex history, having been home to ancient Greek colonies, the Crimean Khanate, and the site of the Crimean War. It was part of the Russian Empire and later the Ukrainian SSR before being annexed by Russia in 2014, a move that is not internationally recognized. The region is known for its diverse cultural heritage and its strategic and political significance.

Alushta

Alushta is a popular resort town on the southern coast of Crimea, situated along the Black Sea. Its history dates back to the 6th century AD when it was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I as a fortress named Aluston. Today, visitors can explore the remains of this medieval fortress while enjoying the town’s beaches and scenic mountain backdrop.

Krasnodar

Krasnodar is a major city in southern Russia, founded in 1793 by Catherine the Great as a key fortress to defend the empire’s southern borders. Originally named Yekaterinodar, it served as the cultural and administrative center for the Cossack hosts in the Kuban region before being renamed in 1920. Today, it is a vibrant hub known for its agriculture, industry, and Cossack heritage.

Yelizavetinskaya

Yelizavetinskaya is a stanitsa (a Cossack village) located in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, on the right bank of the Kuban River. It was founded in 1794 as one of the first forty settlements established by the Black Sea Cossacks after they were granted the land by Catherine the Great. The settlement was named in honor of the Empress Elizabeth (Yelizaveta) Alexeievna, the wife of Emperor Alexander I.