“What’s in a name?” Shakespeare asked. Here, at the Kollontay Bridge, a name tells a story. This bridge isn’t just concrete and steel. It’s a tribute to Alexandra Kollontai.
The Kollontay Bridge stands on highway No. 5. It aligns with Kollontay Street on the Neva River’s right bank. Kollontay Street is key to the Vesyoly Posyolok District. Both the street and bridge honor Alexandra Mikhailovna Kollontai. She was a Russian revolutionary and Soviet diplomat.
This bridge spans the Okkervil River. The river flows east of St. Petersburg. It’s a left tributary of the Okhta River. The Okkervil starts in marshland south of Koltushskaya Upland. It winds through Vsevolozhsky, Krasnogvardeysky, and Nevsky districts. The river is about 18 km long. Its width varies. It ranges from 1.5 to 25 meters. The depth is shallow. It measures 0.25 to 0.8 meters.
The Kollontay Bridge arose from housing construction in this district. Built between 1972 and 1974, B.E. Dvorkin designed it. Dvorkin worked for Lengiproinzhproject. The bridge mirrors one on Dybenko Street. It is a single-span, reinforced concrete structure.
This bridge handles trams, cars, and pedestrians. Precast reinforced concrete I-section beams form the superstructure. The facade spans have curved bottom chords. Massive abutments anchor the bridge. They consist of monolithic reinforced concrete on pile foundations. Low concrete retaining walls with reinforced slopes adjoin the abutments.
Small-grained asphalt paves the roadway. Sand-asphalt covers the sidewalks. A reinforced concrete balustrade separates the sidewalk from the roadway. Granite curbs divide the roadway from the sidewalks. Composite railings of cast iron and metal inserts line the bridge. Granite pedestals stand at the railing ends.
Like the Rossiysky Bridge, Kollontay Bridge bears a heavy load during hockey matches. The Ice Palace is nearby. About 12,000 fans attend each game.
Alexandra Kollontai’s story is as compelling as this bridge. Born in 1872 in St. Petersburg, she challenged societal norms. Aristocratic women were expected to be wives and mothers. Kollontai chose a different path. At 27, she joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party.
After the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, she rose to prominence. She became a diplomatic counselor in Norway. Soon, she headed the legation. Kollontai was among the first women to hold such a high post.
Kollontai was a Marxist feminist. She believed true socialism needed radical changes in attitudes toward sexuality. She saw traditional families as legacies of an oppressive past.
As People’s Commissar for Social Welfare, she founded the Women’s Department. This organization fought illiteracy and educated women about new laws. Despite losing political influence later, she served in various diplomatic roles. She became an ambassador in Sweden in 1943.
So, as you cross the Kollontay Bridge, remember its namesake. Alexandra Kollontai defied expectations and fought for a better world. This bridge is more than just a crossing. It’s a symbol of progress and change.