In response to the threat of flooding, the Russian Government decided to construct a Flood Protection Barrier (FPB) across the Gulf of Finland. This Barrier comprises eleven rock and earth embankment dams, six water discharge sluices to accommodate outflow from the river Neva and two navigation channels equipped with closing gates. The Barrier also incorporates road bridges at each of the sluices, a road tunnel at the main navigation channel, a lift bridge at the secondary navigation channel and a road constructed on the embankment dams. The overall length of the Barrier is 25.4km.

The construction works for the Barrier started in 1979. However, construction of the Barrier was suspended in 1987 as a result of concerns about the perceived negative environmental impacts of the barrier on the Neva Bay. In 1990 an international commission concluded that the impact of the completed barrier on the environment would be broadly neutral and recommended prompt completion.

In 2002, the EBRD funded a complex Feasibility Study, which led to the EBRD granting a $240 million loan to the Government of Russia towards the cost of completing the Barrier. Further loan agreements are concluded with the European Investment Bank (Luxemburg) and the Nordic Investment Bank (Helsinki).

The works to construct the Barrier were restarted in 2004.

Royal Haskoning