Turkey has completed the tender process for the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge on the Armenian border. The contract for the respective work was signed on September 28, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said, Anadolu Agency reports.

The bridge is located on the Akhuryan River in the medieval city of Ani, one of the ancient capitals of Armenia, in Turkey’s Kars Province. According to the Turkish minister, the bridge was built in the 10th century on the Great Silk Road and served as an important trade crossing between the East and the West. Initially, the bridge was about 80 meters long and 8 meters wide, but its main arch collapsed on October 16, 1807.

Only the supports of the structure have survived to this day. The restoration of the bridge will be part of the cooperation between Turkey and Armenia. The protocol defining the scope and order of the work was signed in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, on May 4. The project will be implemented by a joint commission.

The city of Ani, along with 21 monuments of cultural heritage, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2016. Turkish authorities state that the aim of this project is to preserve the historical structure for future generations.