Staro-Kalinkin Bridge, Staro-Petergofsky Ave., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190121
The Staro-Kalinkin Bridge in Petersburg is one of the seven standard stone three-span bridges over the Fontanka River, built in the 18th century and preserved to this day. In 2033, the bridge will celebrate its 300th anniversary. The bridge is located in the Admiralteysky District of Saint Petersburg. Staro-Petergofsky Avenue approaches it from the left bank, not far from the bridge on the river embankment. The bridge’s structure is a stone three-span construction, where the middle span is covered by a gentle circular arch, and the side spans are covered by stone vaults of box-shaped outlines.
On both sides of the bridge are four granite towers, designed as open pavilions consisting of slightly rusticated columns with a rhombic cross-section. They are crowned with round domes topped by spherical gilded urns. Memorial plaques are installed on the granite towers, indicating the dates of the start and completion of the bridge’s construction: “N. 1786. GODA.” (on the left bank) and “O. 1788. GODA.” (on the right bank).
The bridge’s railing is similar to the railing along the embankment — metal sections on granite pedestals — matching the pattern of the Fontanka River embankment fences, while the bridge’s abutments have granite parapets. Granite benches are installed on the abutments’ parapets. At the bridge entrances, four granite round obelisks with faceted lanterns stand. The sidewalks are separated from the roadway by high granite barriers, ending at the bridge entrances with shaped ends, in front of which granite posts are installed.
Like many other bridges in Petersburg, this bridge has undergone several name changes. It received its name from the nearby Kalinkina village (a small Finnish village known since the 17th century). Over its existence, the bridge’s name changed multiple times: Kalinkovsky Bridge (1755), Kalinkinsky Bridge (1758–1875), Kalinkin Bridge (1763–1867).
Since 1820, after the appearance of the Malo-Kalinkin Bridge over the Ekaterininsky Canal, it began to be called the Bolshoy Kalinkin (Big Kalinkin). The modern name in the form of Stary Kalinkin Bridge (Old Kalinkin Bridge) appeared in 1873, as the bridge was located on the same main road as the Novo-Kalinkin Bridge over the Obvodny Canal. From the 1930s, the crossing was finally renamed Staro-Kalinkin Bridge.
The Staro-Kalinkin Bridge is one of the oldest in the city; since 1733, there was a wooden bridge here. The bridge’s length reached up to 250 meters. It had a draw span with superstructures for opening its sections in the form of three-span portals with “cranes.” In the 1780s, construction of the granite embankment of the Fontanka River began, supervised by engineer-colonel Gerard. According to the General Plan for the redevelopment of the Fontanka, from 1782 to 1788 seven bridges were built: Simeonovsky, Anichkov, Chernyshev, Obukhovsky, Izmailovsky, Semyonovsky, and finally Kalinkin.
The bridges were built according to a standard design created by the French architect Jean-Rodolphe Perronet. The construction of the Kalinkin Bridge was supervised by engineers Gerard and Sukhtelen. Work began in 1786 and was completed in 1788, as evidenced by the commemorative plaques on the bridge’s towers.
The bridge was manually opened using chains. The sidewalks were separated from the roadway by granite curbs; granite obelisks with lanterns were installed at the bridge entrances, and granite benches were placed on the parapets of the bridge’s abutments. In 1892–1893, according to architect Ryllo’s project, the bridge was partially reconstructed — it was widened to 15.2 meters, and the middle wooden draw span was replaced with a gentle stone vault. The granite towers above the river piers were restored. In 1907–1908, due to the laying of tram tracks on the bridge, its roadway was widened while preserving the granite towers and granite parapets on the piers. In 1965, it was decided to restore the historical appearance of the Staro-Kalinkin Bridge and return its lost decor. Architect Irina Nikolaevna Benois developed the restoration project based on archival materials and paintings of the bridge. Granite details were restored: benches on the parapets of the bridge’s abutments, curbs along the sidewalks, and round obelisks at the entrances.
In 1969, the metal decorative details were gilded. In 1986–1987, according to architect Ivanov’s project, lanterns and commemorative plaques on the towers were recreated. From October 2013 to April 2014, repairs were carried out on the road surface, tram rails, and communications on the bridge. The author of the project to reproduce the lost details was architect Benois; the project was based on a historical report compiled by Rabinovich, an employee of the Special Scientific Restoration Workshops, using archival materials collected by Popova. One of the sources for the overall appearance of the crossing in the 19th century was the painting “Kalinkin Bridge” by Knappe, painted in 1840.

Today, only the heavy sagging chains and the student humor of future shipbuilders from the “Korabelka” — the State Marine Technical University located on the neighboring Lotsmanskaya Street — remind us of the once high technical capabilities of the old bridges: “Ivanov, why were you late for the lecture?” — “Kalinkin Bridge was raised, professor.”
Sources:
Sindalovsky Naum Alexandrovich, Book of Changes. The Fates of Petersburg Toponymy in Urban Folklore.
https://mos-holidays.ru/spb/mosty/staro-kalinkin-most/
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