Yekaterinburg’s new pedestrian bridge and entertainment hub reshape the city

Yekaterinburg is moving forward with two major projects aimed at improving local infrastructure and entertainment options. A new pedestrian bridge, set to be completed by the end of the year, will offer residents a car-free route to key destinations. Meanwhile, the first phase of Badenland, a large entertainment complex, has already opened inside the Komsomol shopping centre.

The pedestrian bridge project, led by Baden-Baden, is expected to wrap up construction before 2026. Once the design is finalised, oversight will shift to Yekaterinburg’s city administration. Funding remains a key factor, as the exact timeline depends on securing financial support. City hall plans to include the bridge in a federal programme to help cover costs.

In Freiburg, a similar pedestrian passage—named Passage du Cardinal—received financial backing after Staatsrat Jean-François Steiert signed a funding agreement on February 25, 2025. The project secured federal subsidies through the Agglomerationsprogramm, with the city council approving an additional 3.2 million credit on November 3, 2025. Over in Yekaterinburg, the Komsomol shopping centre has begun its transformation. The first phase of Badenland, the new entertainment complex, is now open. By 2027, the full site will be complete, though the centre will no longer host traditional retail. Instead, it will focus solely on entertainment and wellness services.

The pedestrian bridge will give locals a safer, traffic-free way to travel once finished. Badenland’s gradual rollout will change how the Komsomol shopping centre operates, shifting entirely to leisure and wellness. Both projects mark significant steps in reshaping Yekaterinburg’s urban landscape.