BEIJING, April 20 -- The first railway bridge to cross a river and link China with Russia is under rapid construction, local media reported.

The Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye Railway Bridge, which crosses the Heilongjiang River, or the Amur River in Russia, is slated for completion by the end of 2016, according to Heilongjiang Daily.

The 2,215-meter bridge will link Tongjiang city in Heilongjiang Province with Nizhneleninskoye in Russia's Jewish Autonomous Oblast, 1,900 meters will be within China's borders.

With a designed annual shipment volume of 21 million metric tons, the bridge will contribute to the development of trade, transportation and tourism.

China plans to invest 2.64 billion yuan (431 million U.S. dollars) in the project, including the construction of the main bridge and an approach road.