The Old-Volzhsky Bridge across the Volga is one of the most beautiful structures in the historical part of Tver. The iron structure of the riveted sheet steel bridge rises above the river on the left side of the Mikhail Yaroslavich Embankment. Tourists walk here after visiting the Travel Palace.
Tver is located on the busiest road in Russia between Moscow and St. Petersburg, but there was no permanent bridge in the city until the end of the 19th century. By order of Peter I, a pontoon bridge on barges was created in Tver, but it interfered with navigation. In the spring, during the ice drift, the communication over the bridge was interrupted. With the increase in traffic intensity, the construction of a permanent bridge in Tver became necessary.
The construction of the Old-Volzhsky Bridge began in 1897, and ended in 1900. The bridge project was prepared by an engineer from St. Petersburg Fedor Tochinsky, and it was built by Czech engineer Mashek. A year earlier, in 1896, the Freedom Bridge across the Danube was inaugurated in Budapest. The steel trusses of the Old-Volzhsky Bridge in Tver are very similar to the Budapest Bridge. The length of the Old-Volzhsky bridge in Tver is 215 meters, the width is 10 meters, 4 supports. The length of the bridge in Budapest is 334 meters, width 20 meters, 5 supports.
These bridges are similar, as they are built according to the system of engineer Gerber. There are many bridges in the world built according to this system. Engineer Gerber proposed a cantilever bridge system, which is supported by riveted steel beams. The roadway of such bridges is slightly arched and looks very beautiful.
In 1982, the bridge was reconstructed. The roadway was widened to 9 meters. The bridge has changed its appearance, but even now it is the most beautiful bridge in Tver and one of the most beautiful in Russia.
