Chain Bridge, Federal cultural heritage bridge in Ostrov, Russia.
The Chain Bridges are two single-span suspension bridges on one axis over the Velikaya River in Ostrov, each with a span of 93.29 m. Rust-brown metal chains, carried over granite pylons 9.88 m high, support a flat truss deck with diagonal latticework and vertical suspender rods. Since the early 1980s the crossing has been pedestrian-only.
The bridge was built between 1850 and 1853, at a time when suspension bridges were still a novelty in Russia. It quickly became a key route for trade and movement through Ostrov, shaping how the town grew around the river.
The name Tsepnye Mosty refers to the load-bearing chains, made of flat iron links bolted six abreast, that rest on cast-iron roller heads atop the granite pylons. Since the early 1980s the crossing has been reserved for pedestrians, and residents use it to walk between the town centre and the right-bank suburb.
The bridge is easy to reach on foot from both sides of the city and can be crossed without any special preparation. In winter, the surface can become slippery, so wearing sturdy footwear is a good idea.
The two spans are not identical twins: the southern bridge was blown up in 1944 during the German retreat, its upper chain severed near a pylon, and rebuilt in three months in 1946. Since the early 1980s both crossings have been pedestrian-only.
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