Moscow-Riga Railroad Bridge, Railroad deck arch bridge in northwestern Moscow, Russia
The Moscow-Riga Railroad Bridge is a single-span reinforced-concrete arch bridge over Lock No. 8 of the Moscow Canal, with a three-hinged Mayard arch. Its full length is 200.8 m, the main span 120 m, and the bridge rises about 20 m. The bridge axis crosses the lock chamber at 58 degrees to the canal.
Engineer A.S. Bachelis designed this bridge, which opened in 1936 as part of a major canal construction project that took several years. It was built during a period when the city was fundamentally reshaping its infrastructure.
The bridge became known as a symbol of Soviet progress and appeared on stamps and in films during the 1930s. It represents the industrial transformation of Moscow during that era for many people.
The bridge carries the Moscow–Riga railway over Lock No. 8 of the Moscow Canal, so it is not open to pedestrians. The best views of the 120-metre arch are from the canal embankments near the lock in the Tushino and Shchukino districts. The unpainted concrete can look rusty up close.
Inside the arch structure are reinforcing braces placed at regular intervals that increase stability. These internal reinforcements are not visible from outside but contribute significantly to the bridge's load-bearing capacity.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,407 contributors worldwide.
