Sampsonievsky Bridge, Bascule bridge along the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Sampsonievsky Bridge is a bascule bridge spanning the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, constructed from steel with a length of roughly 193 meters and width of about 28 meters. Two lifting sections in the middle rise to allow river traffic to pass underneath.
Built in 1806, this bridge connected neighborhoods as Saint Petersburg developed into Russia's capital. It remains one of the city's oldest lifting bridges and has shaped the riverscape since the early 1800s.
The bridge serves as a meeting point for residents and visitors who gather to watch ships pass through during navigation season from April to November.
The two lifting sections open at night between 1:30 and 4:30 in the morning for ships, blocking pedestrians during these hours. Plan your crossing during daytime when the bridge remains open for regular traffic.
Unlike many other city bridges, this one still uses its original electromechanical lifting system from the early 1900s. This historic mechanical design makes it technically distinct among Neva crossings.
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