Blagoveshchensky Bridge

Blagoveshchensky (Annunciation) Bridge
Blagoveshchensky Bridge
Coordinates	59°56′05″N 30°17′23″E / 59.934653°N 30.289695°E / 59.934653; 30.289695Coordinates: 59°56′05″N 30°17′23″E / 59.934653°N 30.289695°E / 59.934653; 30.289695
Carries	pedestrian and vehicular traffic
Crosses	Neva River
Locale	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Characteristics
Design	Girder bridge with a bascule section
Total length	331 m
Width	37 m
History
Construction begin	1843, 1936, 2006
Construction end	1850, August 15, 2007
Opened	November 12, 1850

The Blagoveshchensky (Annunciation) Bridge (Благовещенский мост; from 1855 to 1918 Nikolaevsky Bridge, Николаевский мост; from 1918 to 2007 called Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge, Мост Лейтенанта Шмидта) is the first permanent bridge built across the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It connects Vasilievsky Island and the central part of the city (Admiralteysky raion). The bridge's length is 331 meters and the width was 24 meters. The original name of the bridge was Nevsky Bridge. It was later renamed Blagoveshchensky Bridge. After the death of Tsar Nicholas I, it was named Nikolaevsky Bridge in his honor, and in 1918 it was renamed for Lieutenant Schmidt.

In 1727 a temporary bridge was built at the location of the modern bridge. The place was chosen by Menshikov whose palace is located at the opposite bank. This bridge, named Issakievsky, existed until the current bridge was built, at which time it was moved to the location of where Palace Bridge is located today.

The bridge was built in 1843-1850. It was designed by Stanisław Kierbedź, a Polish engineer working in Russia. The architect Alexander Brullov participated in the decoration. The design was a cast iron bridge with twin parallel swing sections at its northern end. At the time, it was the longest bridge in Europe. According to the legend, the Russian Tsar, Nicholas I promised to Kierbedź to give him a promotion for every completed span. After the bridge was completed with eight spans total in it, Kierbedź was promoted to the rank of General, but actually when he started the construction he already had a rank of Podpolkovnik (i.e. lieutenant colonel).