The American Bridge

The American Bridge is a railway crossing over the Obvodny Canal in Saint Petersburg that carries five parallel tracks. It connects the main station with the railway line heading toward Moscow operated by Oktyabrskaya Railway.

The bridge was built in the 1840s as part of the Saint Petersburg-Moscow railway line, overseen by American engineer D.W. Whistler alongside local engineer N.A. Kheraskov. This connection was a major advancement for the region at that time.

The name 'American Bridge' honors the American engineering expertise that shaped its original design in the 1840s. This reflects how international collaboration was central to Saint Petersburg's development as a modern railway hub.

The bridge underwent major renovation between 2006 and 2012 to prepare it for high-speed rail services. You can view the structure best from the surrounding streets or from the canal, as it is primarily used for train traffic.

During the recent renovation, underground tunnels were added beneath the bridge structure while new embankment roads were built on both sides of the canal. This expansion created extra traffic space without altering the original bridge itself.