Varvarovskiy Bridge, Swing bridge in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
Varvarovskiy Bridge is a swing bridge crossing the Southern Bug River in Mykolaiv, spanning approximately 750 meters to connect different parts of the city. Its steel and concrete construction allows the bridge to rotate horizontally to permit boat traffic beneath.
The bridge opened on 18 July 1964, replacing an earlier pontoon crossing from 1827 that German forces destroyed in 1944 during their retreat. This new structure represented the city's reconstruction efforts following wartime damage.
The bridge serves as a common meeting place where local residents and photography enthusiasts gather along the railings. They come especially to watch ships pass through during the opening of the rotating structure.
Vehicles and pedestrians can cross the bridge daily, though it closes temporarily when large vessels need to pass through the river. Plan your crossing around these opening times if you want to avoid delays.
When completed in 1964, this ranked among the largest automotive bridges in the Soviet Union, incorporating innovative concrete beam technology. Few visitors realize how this engineering feat represented cutting-edge Soviet construction methods of that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.