Italian Bridge
Bridge in Saint Petersburg, Russia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Italian Bridge (Russian: Итальянский мост) is a 22.5 m (74 ft) long and 3 m (9.8 ft) wide single-span beam pedestrian bridge crossing the Griboyedov Canal in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It connects Kazansky Island and Spassky Island in the city's Tsentralny District.[1] The bridge takes its name from Italyanskaya Street.[2]
Italian Bridge Итальянский мост | |
|---|---|
Italian bridge, upstream view, 2015 | |
| Coordinates | 59°56′14″N 30°19′37″E |
| Crosses | Griboyedov Canal |
| Locale | Saint Petersburg |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch Bridge |
| Total length | 22.5 m (74 ft) |
| Width | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1896 (wooden), 1968 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Italian Bridge Итальянский мост | |
History
The bridge was built in 1896 in the place of a boat ferry as a single span wooden bridge which connected Bolshaya and Malaya Italyanskaya Streets. Railway engineer Leonid N. Kolpitsyn proposed building a bridge across the canal, but as the city authorities declined to endorse the project, he built it at his own expense.[1] The novelty at the time was use of xilolit plates as a paving material.[1] The bridge opened to pedestrians on 6 October 1896, at a cost of 3,500 rubles.[1] The city authorities expressed gratitude, but refused to reimburse the construction costs, and also rejected his proposal of introducing a toll of 1 kopeck per person. Kolpitsyn ultimately donated the bridge to the city.[1]
In 1902 the bridge was rebuilt for the first time, the xylolite slabs replaced with plank decking, overseen by Karl Baldi.[1] In 1911-1912 it was rebuilt again, with the trusses replaced with a timber strut structure, under the supervision of engineer K. V. Yefimyev. In 1912, the trusses were replaced with a timber strut structure. In 1937, it was rebuilt as a pedestrian heat-conducting bridge with two thermal pipes, and rebuilt in 1955 with a steel beam superstructure with elaborate decorations. In 1996, the "Venetian" lanterns and railing were restored.[2] The bridge has the status of an object of regional significance on the Russian cultural heritage register.[3][4]
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