Russia's bridge link to annexed Crimea It's a colossal and controversial project: a 19-kilometre long bridge that will link the annexed Crimea peninsula to mainland Russia through the Kerch Strait. The bridge will provide a practical solution for the transport of goods and people, but also stands as a symbol of Moscow's continuing intentions to control Crimea, which was annexed in March 2014 after a referendum deemed illegal by Kiev and the European Union. According to the Russian authorities, the three billion euro project will be completed by the end of 2018 for road transport, and a year later for the rail link. In the city of Kerch, on Crimean side, many people are optimistic about the prospects this bridge will bring. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES