Sometimes a canal is just a canal. Not so with the Dudergofsky Canal. The Dudergofsky Canal is more than just a waterway. It’s a testament to St. Petersburg’s ambition. It showcases its constant reshaping of nature.
Welcome to the banks of the Dudergofsky Canal. This isn’t one of the city’s grand canals. It doesn’t boast ornate palaces or dramatic history. But the Dudergofsky Canal still has its own story.
The Dudergofsky Canal owes its existence to the regulation of the Dudergofka River. The regulation led to the creation of a new canal. The need arose to manage the river’s course. The Dudergofsky Canal is located on the left bank. It is near the confluence of the Dudergofka River. It flows into the canal.
The canal’s construction was part of a larger project. The project was for the Dudergofsky Canal area development. Engineer A.A Sokolov of Lengiproinzhproject drafted the plans. Glavleningradinzhstroy’s Administration of Capital Construction No.6 Glav-UKS was the customer.
A key feature near the Dudergofsky Canal is the Bridge over the new bed of the Dudergofka River. It is also known as Polezhaevsky Bridge. The Polezhaevsky Bridge is located in Polezhaevsky Park. The park lies near Petergofskoye Highway.
Polezhaevsky Park itself has an interesting past. Its history began in 1840. Rich St. Petersburg Lieutenant-General G.G. Kushelyov purchased the Buxhoevedens’ estate. The estate included seven villages. He invited architect A.I. Stackenschneider to rebuild the country house. The development of an English landscape park began. A network of paths and alleys was created.
The bridge over the Dudergofsky Canal is a single-span reinforced concrete arch bridge. It has a hingeless system. A solid monolithic reinforced concrete vault is lined with granite. This lining extends from the facades to the abutment wings.
The bridge abutments are massive. They are made of reinforced concrete on pile foundations. Granite faces the abutments. The bridge is 30 meters long and 16.8 meters wide. It accommodates pedestrians and unit loads up to NC-30. A granite parapet serves as the railing. The pavement is asphaltic concrete.
SU-3 of Trust Lenmostostroy built the bridge. Chief engineer V.P. Belashov and foreman L.A. Levkin directed the construction. I.S. Kaparovsky, Chief Specialist of UKS-6, oversaw technical supervision.
So, as you stand here by the Dudergofsky Canal. Consider the layers of history beneath your feet. A river redirected. A park reshaped. A bridge built to connect. It’s a reminder that even seemingly small canals have their own stories. Stories of engineering, landscape and the ever-changing face of St. Petersburg.