Volodarsky bridge (Saint Petersburg)

 moveable bridge, road bridge, 1992_construction, 1936_construction

The Volodarsky Bridge across the Neva connects the southern and right-bank districts with a population of up to 500 thousand people, which is comparable to the population of a large regional center.

Today it is a five-span metal bridge with a drawbridge in the middle. Permanent spans are blocked by continuous beams. Each superstructure consists of two semi-blocks united in a common structure by an upper orthotropic plate and cross-links. The length of the spans is 125 meters, the weight is 800 tons each.

The adjustable span is a single-wing opening system with a fixed axis of rotation, with rigidly attached counterweights. Its length is 57 meters. The movable superstructure is a single metal structure consisting of four main beams connected on top by an orthotropic plate with ribs. The wiring of the bridge is carried out using a hydraulic drive.

A metal railing of a simple pattern is installed on the bridge. Granite obelisks on pedestals are placed at the entrances. The height of the roadway fences is 75 centimeters. Staircases have been built on four sides of the bridge.

Volodarsky Bridge is the only bridge in St. Petersburg with an overpass extension for the tram exit. The overpass is located on the left bank of the Neva River.

In the 1930s, Leningrad's urban planning plans provided for the development of the southeastern part of the city. For this purpose, the construction of a number of new bridges across the Neva was being prepared, including the crossing in the alignment of Ivanovskaya and Narodnaya Streets. This bridge was conceived as the most important part of the central arc highway connecting Stalin Avenue (now Moskovsky Avenue) with the right-bank districts of Leningrad.

The bridge was built in 1932-1936 according to the project of engineers of Lenmosttrest under the guidance of Professor G.P. Peredery, with the participation of architects A.S. Nikolsky and K.M. Dmitriev. The construction of this crossing has become one of the unique engineering developments of G.P. Peredery in bridge construction.

It was the first reinforced concrete bridge across the Neva River and the first drawbridge built in Soviet times in Leningrad. The layout of the axis is dictated by the conditions of navigation. At that time, the bridge was a unique engineering structure.

The five—span bridge had two symmetrical reinforced concrete arched spans and a metal draw span in the middle - a two-winged one with a fixed axis of rotation. The project proposed an original design of permanent superstructures — flexible arches with rigid tightening. The river supports are built on coffered foundations, and the coastal abutments are on pile foundations.

The total length of the bridge was 352.2 meters, the width between the axes of the trusses was 20.2 meters, the length of the central draw span was 43.6 meters, and the length of the side arch spans was 101 meters each. The weight of the counterweights is 400 tons, the weight of each wing of the draw span is 385 tons.

Technological and architectural innovations were applied during the construction of the bridge. So, for the first time, the passage of transport along the embankments was arranged under side spans, which later became a standard scheme for the construction of Moscow bridges. Also, when creating the arched structures of the side spans, tubular fittings were used for the first time. The draw span is blocked by trusses, the metal parts of which were connected using welding — an innovative solution for the early 1930s.

Reinforced concrete flexible arches were delivered to the construction site on specially designed pontoons. The weight of each part was more than 4,000 tons. The transportation of the arches of the Volodarsky Bridge was led by the famous shipbuilder and mathematician — academician A.I. Krylov.

The pedestrian part of the bridge was separated from the roadway by balustrades, which were important for traffic safety.

A tram line was laid across the bridge, running along the entire right bank to the Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge. This made it possible for citizens to freely get to the central part of Leningrad, because at that time there was neither the metro nor the Alexander Nevsky Bridge. The bridge was opened on November 7, 1936.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Volodarsky Bridge was used as a stand-in for the Finnish Railway Bridge, and rolling stock was transferred along it to the right bank of the Neva.

In 1970-1971, the reconstruction of certain parts of the bridge, obsolete during operation, was carried out.

The general view of the Volodarsky Bridge with massive reinforced concrete arches was unpopular among Leningrad architects of the second half of the XX century. In addition, the reinforced concrete structure experienced enormous overstrain. Due to the general wear and tear of the crossing, it became necessary to radically rebuild it.

In 1988, the reconstruction of the bridge began according to the project of engineers of the Institute "Lengiprotransmost" A.I. Ketslakh and P.M. Stepnov. The work was carried out until 1993 with the participation of architect Yu.I. Sinitsa. For the period of repair, a temporary bus and pedestrian bridge was erected downstream of the river.

During the reconstruction, the permanent spans and the draw span of the Volodarsky Bridge were replaced. The old supports were preserved, but made wider and more stable. The height of the supports was increased by 4 meters. Many vessels began to pass under it without wiring the central span.

The bridge supports were supported by continuous metal girders, which have become traditional for Nevsky bridges. Steel continuous beams were also thrown over the coastal strip, in which there is a transport interchange at different levels. A special overpass has been built for trams. The capacity of the bridge has doubled. The silhouette of the bridge, which appeared as a result of perestroika, significantly improved the ensemble of urban development.

In 2003, another reconstruction of the Volodarsky Bridge was carried out, due to the increased flow of freight transport. In 2008, the metal structures of stationary superstructures were reinforced.

Volodarsky Bridge is named in memory of the revolutionary figure V. Volodarsky, popular in Soviet times. He was killed in 1918 in the area of the future bridge, and in 1925 a monument was erected to him on the banks of the Neva near Ivanovskaya Street.

Information has repeatedly appeared in the media about plans to rename the bridge to Russian, but for now it remains Volodarsky.

en.mostotrest-spb.ru/bridges/volodarskij