About 50 stone bridges are operated on the roads of the Russian Federation. Each of them is arched with a circular, less often ellipsoidal, outline of the arch. Stone bridges make up only 0.8% of all existing structures. The number of such structures 25 years ago was about 100, half a century ago - more than 150. Even if we take into account those stone bridges that today are transferred to the category of “pipes” or are not on balance at all, there will be no more than 1 of them on the federal network. 5 %.
A decrease in similar structures is also characteristic of local networks. So, for example, in the Moscow region of the existing 800 stone structures, only 5, about 10 - in the Urals. About 20 bridges are operated in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, in Moscow today there are only 4 arched crossings. In the North Caucasus, the construction of such structures was practically suspended. Even in Dagestan, where the first place was assigned to stone bridge construction, only 3 new structures have appeared in the last decade. And this suggests that in Russia stone bridges unnecessarily displace industrial reinforced concrete and metal structures, and this also applies to areas rich in this rock.
Plunge into the past
One of the very first structures in the capital was built of brick across the Neglinka River. It connects the Trinity Gate of the Kremlin Tower with the Kutafia Sagittarius. The stone bridge in Moscow initially had no supports with water cutters and arches. According to the historian Zabelin, a stone structure was built in 1367, today it is crossed by a park - the Alexander Garden.
Landmark of the capital of Russia
A large stone bridge in Moscow was built back in 1692. Then he was called All Saints. However, since 1858, the Bolshoi Kamenny Bridge was considered the first iron construction in Moscow. In the 16th century, from one coast to another it was possible to cross only by a “live” floating crossing. In the 17th century, the construction of a stone bridge began, in 1938 it was already reinforced concrete, but the name remained the same. In order to fully comply with the name, it was faced with granite.
The panorama of the Kremlin, opening from the Stone Bridge, can be seen on the back of the passports of Russian citizens. In addition, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Sofia, Prechistenskaya and Bersenevskaya embankments are overlooked with this design.
In Moscow, they built other stone bridges for crossing rivers and ravines. At the end of the 18th century, Kitay Gorod and the Kremlin were connected by two artificial structures - Spassky and Nikolsky.
The Big Stone Bridge in Moscow: 1680
Until the 15th century, there was a floating crossing at the site of modern construction. Only in 1643, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich gave the order to begin construction of the first stone bridge. It was entrusted to the master from Strasbourg - Jagon Christler. All construction work on the construction of a stone bridge was suspended after the death of the tsar and the master, completed by an unknown Russian monk in 1687. It was completed in 1692 and given the name of the All Saints.
The stone bridge reached 170 meters in length and 22 in width. It had 8 arches, those designed to pass boats, with 15-meter spans. It was possible to enter from the left bank through the All Saints Gate, on the other end of the bridge there was a tower with a two-hut finish.
Changes since 1858
The dilapidated stone bridge was dismantled and in 1858 it was replaced with a three-span metal one (the first in Moscow). In 1938, a new structure appeared at this place, on which the engineer Kalmykov, architects Gelfreich, Schuko and Minkus worked. The length of the bridge is 487 meters (with porches). It offers an excellent view of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Kremlin, as well as from here you can see the architectural monument "House on the Embankment", designed by Iofan B.M.
Wedding walks
The large stone bridge is known to all residents of the former USSR from the frames of the Moscow Chronicle. The view of this panorama has not changed to this day and looks very well in photographs behind the newlyweds.
The bridge is considered a symbol of association, so photos taken at this place will constantly remind you of the meaning of this word. Think about how much in common. Bridge. Opposite shores. Two fates and one family.
Small stone bridge
A small stone bridge crosses the Drainage Canal, is in second place after the Patriarchal canal of the capital. This construction is located in the Yakimanka area, on the one hand is Serafimovich Street, and on the other - Bolshaya Polyanka.
The small stone bridge was opened in 1938. Its length is 64 meters with a width of 40 meters. This is not the first structure built on this site. Previously, there was a bridge, the construction of which was completed in 1788. At that time it was wooden and received the name "Kozmodemyansky". In 1880, it was replaced by a stone bridge with the corresponding name.
The Yakovlevs and Golbrodsky worked on the modern structure, for some time there were tram tracks.
Sights of St. Petersburg
In 1752, a wooden bridge with one span was built across the Krivusha River (today known to us as the Griboedov Canal). In the future, engineer Nazimov developed a new crossing project. At that time it was the first building made of stone, which is why they called it Stone Bridge. St. Petersburg today can boast of this crossing, and no alterations have been undertaken. The design feature of the bridge is the use of diamond rust. This concept is unfamiliar to many, therefore we will explain in more detail what it is. Diamond rust refers to the processing of protruding stones in the shape of a tetrahedral pyramid, the edges of which, thanks to special polishing, sparkle brightly when exposed to sunlight, resembling diamonds. This technique is often used in construction, but today it is rarely seen anywhere. The Stone Bridge (St. Petersburg) was built with four semicircular stair descents to the water, which were eliminated in the 19th century.
In 1880, the 7th attempt on the emperor was planned at this place. Members of the party “Narodnaya Volya” planted a bomb under the bridge with the aim of blowing up the crossing when the tsar’s crew passed through it. Nevertheless, this undertaking was not destined to happen, since the agents of the security department timely disclosed the plan and Emperor Alexander II crossed the bridge before the Narodnaya Volya arrived. In 1881, 7 pounds of dynamite were removed from the structure, but this already happened after the death of the emperor.
