Krustpils—Jēkabpils tilts, bridge in Latvia
The Krustpils-Jēkabpils bridge is a steel and wooden structure crossing the Daugava River to link two cities in Latvia. The structure stretched about 288 meters long and rose some 40 meters at its center to accommodate train traffic and vehicles.
The bridge was built between 1933 and 1936 and opened on November 16, 1936, with the then-Latvian president Kārlis Ulmanis attending the ceremony. During World War II, Soviet forces damaged it in 1941, and German bombing destroyed it completely in 1944.
The Krustpils-Jēkabpils bridge crosses the Daugava River and links two important cities together. The structure demonstrates how people at that time viewed river crossings as central gathering points for their communities.
The bridge spanned the Daugava River and could be used by trains, vehicles, and pedestrians alike. It served as a key transport hub connecting two regions and making it easier to move agricultural goods to local factories and markets.
Before this bridge was built, people had to use boats or take long detours to cross the river. Completion of the structure saved travel time and joined two separate economic regions in a new way.
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