Northern suspension bridge (Ostrov)

 footbridge, interesting place, listed building / architectural heritage, 1850s construction, suspension bridge

The chain bridges in the city of Ostrov are suspension bridges that span the Velikay River. The monument, with its structural style and unique architecture, is one of the best examples of bridge architecture of the 19th century. There are only two chain bridges from the 19th century that still exist in Russia.
Before steel bridges were built, people used ferries to cross the river, and they used provisional wooden bridges on trestles. This wooden bridge had to be dismantled every year. Trestles often were damaged by flash floods. Many bridge projects were proposed in 1837, 1841, and 1846. A chain suspension bridge was chosen to be implemented and was designed by railroad engineer M.Krasnopolsky.
The project was approved in 1841, but construction didn't start until 1851. Because of a big flash flood in 1851, the project needed to be immediately changed. The project wasn't approved until April 1852. The construction was controlled by the project designer. In 1853 the main Department of railroad systems developed the special provision: “About movement on suspension bridges over Velikay River” this was a result of the fact that suspension bridges being very sensitive to a dynamic load.
The bridges were commissioned on 3rd November 1853. Earlier, on the 30 September, tsar Nicolai I returned from Kovno, crossing the bridge in front of a crowd of people with Cornel Gergard, head of I district of Main Department of railroad systems. In his report to the head of Main Department of railroad systems, Cornel Gergard wrote - “His majesty was very satisfied with our job and a few times said that the bridges were beautiful and very good”. The cost of the two bridges was 294 200 rubles.
In 1926 the carriageway and the wooden stiffening girder was replaced by metal. In 1944 during fighting against Germans, the north bridge was destroyed. In 1945 this bridge was repaired.