Imagine two workmen walking across a bridge. It’s a cold December night in 1916. They notice bloodstains on the fourth span of the Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge.
Welcome to the Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge. It connects Petrovsky Island and Krestovsky Island. This bridge spans the Malaya Nevka River. It is more than just a way to cross the water. It’s a landmark with stories etched into its very structure.
The first Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge was built in 1838. It was a wooden drawbridge. Guard posts stood at the entrance. Wooden houses for soldiers lined the Chukhonka riverbank.
In 1947, the wooden spans were replaced with metal ones. The bridge measured 297 meters long and 18 meters wide.
But disaster struck in December 1993. Ice movements on the Malaya Nevka River damaged the bridge. Two support pillars were completely destroyed. The Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge was then narrowed for pedestrian use only.
In 2009, the old wooden structure was dismantled. Construction of a new bridge began. It opened in September 2010. The new Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge has four lanes for vehicles. It also has pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths.
The Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge is infamous for a grim reason. Grigori Rasputin’s body was allegedly thrown into the water from here. This happened on December 17, 1916. Two workmen found bloodstains on the bridge. This gruesome discovery added a dark chapter to the bridge’s history.
Today, the Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge stands as a testament to resilience. It is a vital link between islands. The bridge offers stunning views of the new stadium on Krestovsky Island. It serves both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. As you cross the Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge, remember its past. Think about its wooden beginnings. Consider the chilling tale of Rasputin. The Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge is more than just steel and concrete. It’s a story etched in time.