Post Office Pedestrian Bridge

The Post Office Pedestrian Bridge spans the Moyka River at the intersection of Bolshaya Morskaya Street and Prachechny Lane, connecting the Kazansky and 2nd Admiralteysky Islands. It is a single-span chain suspension structure, measuring 39 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width. This is the only suspension bridge in St. Petersburg where the original design, created in the first quarter of the 19th century, has been preserved (or rather, restored).

Interestingly, the bridge’s railing fences are not attached to the pylons, which allows the structural elements freedom of movement and makes them more durable.

At the end of the 18th century, a four-span wooden beam bridge with wooden abutments and intermediate supports sheathed with boards was built here. By the beginning of the 19th century, it had deteriorated and required replacement.

In 1823–1824, according to the design and under the supervision of engineer von Tretter of the Corps of Communications Engineers, the bridge was rebuilt into a single-span pedestrian suspension bridge. It was constructed simultaneously with the Panteleimonovsky chain vehicular bridge over the Fontanka River. The bridge’s structure consisted of wrought iron chains suspended from cast iron obelisk pylons on the banks, arranged in fan-shaped sectors, which supported the wooden span structure via round-section suspension rods. The wrought iron chains were attached to the obelisk pylons with special hinged locks. The obelisks were topped with gilded spheres.

The bridge began to be used before completion: local residents started crossing the Moyka on the unfinished bridge. Some parts of the bridge, including the railings, had not yet been installed, and the bridge was completed during its use. The bridge swayed significantly when pedestrians crossed due to its low rigidity. To prevent uneven swaying, cast iron turnstiles—cross-shaped rotating gates to regulate pedestrian traffic—were installed at the bridge entrances.

To reduce the bridge’s weight, in 1902 the wrought iron railings were removed and replaced with lighter, simpler designs.

Due to progressive deformation of the span structure, in 1905 wooden supports were added under the span, and the bridge ceased to be suspension. The single-span suspension bridge was converted into a three-span beam bridge with hinges.

In 1953, the wooden span structure was replaced with metal I-beams. Only the hanging chains remained as decoration, reminding of their former role. The restored river supports were sheathed with boards.

In 1956, the original cast iron railing was restored according to the design of architect Rotach.

In 1968, the gilding of the spheres on the obelisks was restored.

Between 1981 and 1983, according to the project by engineers Dvorkin and Shipov of Lengiproinzhproekt, the suspension bridge was restored to its original form. The new metal span structure was manufactured at the Ship Repair Plant in Petrokrepost, the chains at the Kanonersky Plant, and the fan-shaped sector pylons at the Kirov Plant. The old bridge abutments were rebuilt. Unnecessary intermediate supports were dismantled. The bridge became suspension once again.

On February 2, 2001, presumably due to a sharp drop in air temperature, a link of the outer chain on the downstream side broke. The crossing was closed for repairs.

In 2003, the bridge underwent major repairs. During the renovation, the chains were completely replaced—they were forged at the Admiralty Shipyards, increasing their diameter by 1.5 times. The stiffening beam was improved, railings, pylons, and artistic decorative elements were restored. During the repair, the span structure was completely dismantled. On December 29, 2003, the renovated Post Office Bridge was reopened.

Between 1822 and 1827, seven chain suspension bridges were built in St. Petersburg, of which only three have survived to this day: Bankovsky and Lion bridges over the Catherine Canal (now the Griboyedov Canal) and the Post Office Bridge over the Moyka. However, the Bankovsky and Lion bridges are essentially beam bridges where the chains serve only a decorative function.

Thus, only the Post Office Bridge has come down to us in its historical design.

Sources:

https://mostotrest-spb.ru/bridges/pochtamtskij