Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge, Steel bridge in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge spans the Neva River with three sections, linking the city center with the industrial waterfront opposite. Granite stones encase the tower bases, while the upper roadway and the lifting section are built from steel framework.
An international competition in 1907 brought together proposals from several countries before construction on the crossing began. Completion followed a few years later, providing a fixed link for growing traffic between both banks.
The four towers with pointed roofs recall medieval fortifications and anchor the crossing firmly in the city skyline. Between the piers, steel arches display rivets and lattice patterns that reveal craftsmanship from earlier generations of engineers.
The middle section lifts at scheduled times to let ships pass, and the entire operation takes about half a minute. Pedestrians cross the roadway on walkways that run along both sides and offer a clear view of the river.
Local tradition tells of a single golden bolt hidden somewhere among the many thousands of steel fasteners. Nobody knows exactly where this bolt sits, but the legend persists in the city.
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