Fontanka River Embankment, 144, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190121
The English pedestrian bridge spans the Fontanka River along the axis of the eponymous avenue and connects Pokrovsky and Bezymyanny Islands. It is a three-span continuous metal beam bridge, 58.4 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. The welded span structure consists of two I-beams with a curved outline of the lower flange. The supports are reinforced concrete on a wooden pile foundation, clad in granite.
The origin of the name English Embankment (and later the eponymous avenue and bridge) is connected to the fact that in the 18th century, merchants from that country settled on the embankment, where the Anglican Church of Jesus Christ was also opened. The merchants occupied an entire block, and the embankment served as the "soul" of aristocratic Petersburg: balls and literary-musical evenings were held there, and social life flourished. The avenue was developed in the nineteenth century and was inhabited by the theatrical bohemia of the Northern capital.
By the way, there are quite a few "English" places in Saint Petersburg. The first ship with British subjects on board — engineers and sailors, doctors and mathematicians — arrived here together with Peter I. There is a legend that in the 19th century, a wealthy elderly Englishman visited the city on the Neva. From the deck of his yacht, he admired the beauty of the Northern capital and refused to go ashore, stating that it made no sense, as he would not see anything more perfect and beautiful.
Between 1906 and 1908, a wooden five-span pedestrian bridge of a beam-cut system was constructed along the axis of English Avenue. The bridge was 61 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. It took on part of the traffic load that arose after the collapse of the Egyptian Bridge in 1905.
The current bridge was built in 1962–1963. The crossing is a three-span metal bridge on reinforced concrete supports with granite cladding. The railings are metal, of a simple design, made by artistic casting. Spherical frosted glass lamps are installed on vertical posts. Stair descents are arranged at the ends of the bridge. The modern English Bridge is distinguished by excellent proportions, forming an ensemble together with the Egyptian and Krasnoarmeysky bridges, all maintained in a unified architectural tone. The bridge connects the medical buildings of the District Medical Center with the residential blocks of the Sadovaya Street area and Turgenev Square. The bridge is illuminated by 8 round frosted lamps, supported by four floor lamps installed on the intermediate supports. The railings are cast metal grids of a simple design on cast-iron pedestals. Stair descents are arranged at the entrances.
Sources:
https://mostotrest-spb.ru/bridges/anglijskij
