Read the text to have a basic notion of bridges in the capital of Russia.

Moscow was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147. It was built as a fortress on a high hill with the Kremlin, surrounded by thick walls of pinewood. The place was chosen at the junction of the Neglinnaya and the Moskva rivers, which protected the Kremlin from hostile forces on both sides. A wide and deep ditch was excavated on the third side to provide an all-round defense (fig. 4.1). The early bridges of Moscow were built to span that ditch.

The oldest bridge over the Neglinnaya River at the Kremlin’s Trinity Gate dates back to 1367. It has survived but stands on a dry place because the river was fully enclosed in a conduit and driven underground. The timber drawbridges, built at the Saviour and St. Nicholas towers, were replaced by masonry structures and then dismantled in the early 19^th century when the ditch was backfilled with earth.

Moscow rapidly grew in the 16^th century, and there were dozens of temporary timber bridges over the Neglinnaya, Yauza, and other small rivers. However, people wanted a permanent structure over the Moskva River as the only crossing from the Kremlin to Zamoskvorechye was made of tied logs. It was one of the most interesting projects at that time, and A. Cristler was invited from Strasbourg to construct the Great Stone Bridge with arch spans of 40 arshins [1] (28.44 m) long. If it had been so, the total bridge span would have been about 250 m. Evidently only one of the spans was 28 m long and the rest of them would be shorter because the river width is considerably less.

The Great Stone Bridge was erected in 1692. It was 135 m long, 22 m wide and rested on nine arches, and seven of them stood in the water. Its main span was 63 m long and the side spans were 36 m each. The bridge roadway was 16 m wide. The rough stone piers, of triangular shape, on the western, side served as starlings when ice drift occurred. Great money was spent and people used to say, “It is costlier than the Great Stone Bridge” when bargaining with each other. The bridge was called “the eighth wonder of the world” for its architectural merits and became a favourite strolling place. Besides, it turned into a busy market and ceremonial place because of its proximity to the Kremlin. In 1859, the bridge was replaced with a metal arch structure with three spans on stone piers, and 80 years later with a steel structure on granite rests. Now the arch spans are made of a highly reliable, low alloy steel, but Muscovites remained faithful to its original name. The total bridge span became four times longer and its roadway, twice as wide as the old one. The main span is 105 m long and 40 m wide. The bridge was constructed in 1932 and can carry about 8, 000 vehicles, 10, 000 pedestrians and 120 trams per hour. Engineer N. Kolmykov built its attractive cast iron railing in 1938.

The old bridges could not meet the requirements of the day and eleven new crossings were built within a fantastically short period of three years. None of the 38 bridges over the Moskva River resemble each other due to their individual engineering and architectural features. The splendid Moscow bridge ensemble built in 1935 – 1938, under the Moscow Master Development Plan, includes the Moskvoretsky, Krymsky, Ustinsky, and Krasnokholmsky Bridges, etc. (fig. 4.1). The new bridges replaced the old and dilapidated ones. Elements made of high-quality steel came into use and allowed the creation of structures with longer spans and therefore less number of piers, allowing the free passage of ships.

The monumental reinforced concrete Moskvoretsky Bridge is strict and faced with pink granite. A gently sloping arch supports it, and the main span is 95 m long. Erected by engineer V. Kirilov in 1936-1937 to replace the old narrow bridge (built in 1872), it leads from Red Square to Zamoskvorechye. At present, it is a footbridge, as Red Square is not open to traffic. The beautiful silvery Krymsky Bridge is the only suspension bridge over the Moskva River. Two steel chains flung across tall pylons support it. Its 168 m span is the longest over the Moskva, and the roadway has six traffic lanes. The bridge was built in 1938 by engineer B. Konstantinov and architect V. Vlasov. Professor K. Yackobson, who held the Chair for 25 years and headed the “Bridges and Tunnels” Faculty at Novosibirsk Institute of Railway Engineering took part in its engineering.

Many bridges commemorate the glorious victories of the Russian people. The Borodinsky Bridge, constructed in 1912, is a memorial to our victory over Napoleon’s troops. The semicircular granite colonnade, two obelisks and bronze memorial plaques bear the names of Russian heroes in the campaign of 1812. It is the only old bridge in Moscow that retains its original form, though it was considerably widened in 1951. The Lefortovsky Bridge, built in 1770, also belongs in the category of the oldest Moscow bridges and is a witness to historical events.

Exercises:

Match English and Russian bridge terminology:

Complete and translate the following sentences:

1. In most cases, bridgeworks over the Moskva River are three-span structures (fig. 4.2a) because the river is rather narrow and an arch can bridge it with (средний пролет). (Боковые пролеты) are used as (путепроводы) since they are built over (автодороги) along the river.

2. The Krymsky Bridge is, without a doubt, a remarkable sight in Moscow, which is appealing to the eye. Its (основной несущий элемент) is the chain made of (низколегированная сталь) plates articulated with suspenders (fig. 4.2b). The parabola shaped chain looks majestic when illuminated during the evening hours.

3. (Совмещенный двухъярусный мост) over the Moskva River was built in Luzhniki in 1958 (fig. 4.2c). It was the only (мост с ездой посередине) in Moscow. The upper deck was used for motor vehicles and (пешеходы). Metro trains passed through the glassed lower (ярус) where they stop at the station. The total bridge span is nearly 2, 650 ft with the central arch over the river of 650 ft and approaching spans. The central span of 5, 000 ft was framed on the site and then shipped by two pontoons, lifted and placed on the piers. The length of the upper deck, including the (подмости) was 3, 868 ft. It was the longest structure over Moskva River, but unfortunately, its (срок службы) lasted only about 30 years and the bridge had to be demolished.

Answer the following questions:

1. What building material was used for the first bridges in Moscow?

2. When was the first permanent bridge over the Moskva River constructed?

3. How many spans were there in the early Great Stone Bridge?

4. What famous bridges are known as the “splendid Moscow bridge ensemble”?

5. What are the principle characteristic features of the Moskvoretsky Bridge?

6. What bridge is the only suspension bridgework in Moscow?

Match the English and Russian bridge terms:

Unit 5

ST. PETERSBURG BRIDGES