Second Sadovy Bridge, Moika River Embankment, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191186
The 2nd Sadovy Bridge, spanning the Moyka River along the axis of Mars Field passage northwest of the Mikhailovsky Garden, connects Spassky and 1st Admiralty Islands in the Central District of Saint Petersburg. The length of the crossing is 30.2 meters, the width is 20.5 meters.
The bridge is a single-span reinforced concrete structure, with the span designed as a three-hinged frame, featuring a curved outline of the lower chord on the facades. The bridge abutments are massive reinforced concrete, faced with granite. The railing is made of artistic cast iron.
The bridge is illuminated by 4 lamps on floor lamps of the type used on the 1st Sadovy Bridge.
The first wooden bridge slightly downstream on the Moyka was built in the first quarter of the 18th century. Since 1738, it was called the Red Bridge — the Red Canal, dug between the Moyka and the Bolshaya Neva to drain the area in the 1710s and filled in the 1780s, ran in line with the bridge. Later, the crossing was named Tsaritsyn Bridge (after Tsaritsyn Meadow — the historical name of Mars Field) and Theatrical Bridge (after the nearby "Free Russian Theatre"). In 1828, the bridge was dismantled due to the plan to build the "Three Bridges".
The first bridge at this location was built in 1876. It was a single-span iron beam bridge with open through trusses on cast iron piles, intended for a horse-railway. However, judging by maps of Saint Petersburg, this crossing did not last long.
In 1933, a new crossing over the Moyka was built in the alignment of the western passage of the Square of the Victims of the Revolution (the name of Mars Field from 1918 to 1944). It was a three-span wooden bridge on metal trusses with wooden railing. A tram line was laid across the bridge.
The bridge had no name for a long time. In 1957, it was named the 2nd Sadovy — after the surrounding gardens and parks. At the same time, the bridge spanning the Moyka upstream, previously called Sadovy, was renamed the 1st Sadovy.
In 1961, on the initiative of engineer Stepnov, the artistic cast iron grilles were restored on the bridge, replacing the wooden railing. The cast iron fence was made following the design of the grille of the stone bridge over the Tarakanovka River near the Narva Gates, built in the 1830s and filled in along with the corresponding section of the river in the 1920s. The work was carried out according to the project of architects Benois and Polyakov. The grilles feature applied details depicting the armor of ancient warriors. The railing is under state protection.
In 1966–1967, according to architect Noskov’s project, the wooden bridge was rebuilt into a single-span reinforced concrete structure. The carefully preserved historic railings were installed on the bridge.
In 1970, the architectural details on the bridge were gilded.
In 1985, a raised granite curb was installed.
In 1998–1999, the crossing underwent major repairs. The tram tracks were removed from the bridge, beams and spans were reinforced, waterproofing was replaced, facades, floor lamps, and railings were restored.
The 2nd Sadovy Bridge is located in one of the most beautiful places in Saint Petersburg and is surrounded by famous parks and architectural monuments: on the left bank of the Moyka — the Mikhailovsky Garden, on the right — Mars Field. From the Mars Field side, one can cross the bridge to the Church of the Savior on Blood and further to the Stables Square.
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