Lovers' Bridge
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Lovers' Bridge Мост Влюблённых | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 57°09′52″N 65°31′20″E / 57.16444°N 65.52222°E |
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Locale | Tyumen, Russia |
| Official name | Lovers' Bridge (Most Vlyublyonnykh) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge |
| Material | Steel and concrete |
| Total length | 247.6 metres (812 ft)[1] |
| Width | 6 metres (20 ft) |
| No. of spans | Tura River |
| Load limit | 20 tons[1] |
| History | |
| Construction start | June 1985[2] |
| Construction end | July 1987 |
| Opened | July 26, 1987 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Lovers' Bridge | |
Lovers' Bridge (Russian: Мост Влюблённых) is a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge over the Tura River in the Central District of Tyumen, Russia.
The bridge is a three-span cable-stayed bridge with a total length of 247.6 metres (812 ft) and a width of 6 metres (20 ft).[1] The structural scheme consists of spans measuring 36.0, 104.5, and 36.0 meters.[3] The project was developed by the Tyumengiprotruboprovod institute, with R. N. Kudryavtseva serving as the chief project engineer.[3]
The bridge was designed to withstand a static load of up to 20 tons.[4] During the final construction phase in 1987, the structure underwent load testing using 18 KamAZ trucks parked simultaneously on the span.[1] Originally, the design included benches for pedestrians, but they were later removed to reduce the constant static load on the cables.[4]
History
The construction of the bridge began in June 1985[2], and it was officially opened on July 26, 1987, five years after the collapse of the old wooden bridge.[4] Contrary to popular belief, the new bridge was not built on the site of the former wooden structure. The original wooden bridge was located at Shcherbakova Street, whereas the current pedestrian bridge was constructed at Krasnoarmeyskaya Street. This distinction is evident in historical photographs. The embankment used for the ramp to the wooden bridge and the distinctive road loop on Beregovaya Street remained visible on Yandex Panoramas until 2020.[5][6]
In 1988, a similar bridge collapsed in Voskresensk, Moscow Oblast. As a precaution, in 1989, engineers inspected the Tyumen bridge and further reinforced the shore support. Originally, the bridge featured benches, but they were later removed as the structure was not designed for such a significant static load.
During the load-testing phase, as many as 18 KamAZ trucks were parked on the bridge simultaneously.[1]
In the late 1990s, an unofficial bungee jumping club operated on the bridge. However, following a fatal accident in September 1999 involving a 16-year-old boy due to faulty equipment, such jumps were strictly prohibited.
In 2003, local DJs Maria Kondratovich and Timur Shkval organized a "Longest Kiss" competition on the bridge. Subsequently, the Mayor of Tyumen, Stepan Kirichuk, was proposed to rename the bridge from "Pedestrian" (Peshekhodny) to "Lovers' Bridge". On July 26, newlyweds and local officials officially inaugurated the new name. Between 2016 and 2017, the bridge underwent a major renovation, including the installation of a modern dynamic lighting system.[4] In May 2017, the bridge underwent a major image change, a process captured in detail by Tyumen photographer Sergey Elesin, highlighting the transition to a more modern architectural look.[7]