The Berlin bridge in Kaliningrad is not only a landmark, but also a piece of history. Unfortunately, it is gradually becoming a thing of the past.
One way or another, but not all connoisseurs of antiquity are in favor of preserving a rare flyover, as spending a long time in traffic jams is an unpleasant pastime.
Memory of the war
At the end of the 30s of the last century, one of the largest construction projects was launched in the east of Koenigsberg. Every day, almost 24 hours a day, machinery worked to build the Berlin Bridge in Kaliningrad. Gradually, concrete supports of a new design arose along the banks of the Pregol.
However, at one point, the project was suspended. Five-year plans followed one after another, but the picture did not change: deserted shores, a huge flood plain, rare vessels and fishermen. And on top of all this, the gloomy monument of the Great Patriotic War “flaunted” - the vast Berlin bridge in Kaliningrad, half of which remained unrepaired after 1945.
Flown to the side of the sky, this is a tribute to the war that life itself constructed. Thousands of tourists come to see the Berlin Bridge in Kaliningrad every year. In the summer, excursions are organized here along the water surface, since a truly unique sight opens up from the river to the huge construction of the bridge. Nowhere to see this!
The bridge during the Great Patriotic War
It is noteworthy that the Berlin bridge (Kaliningrad) during the war years was called Palmburg. Today it is called Coastal. Why is it better known as Berlin?
The fact is that the old Königsberg – Elbing motorway (the current Polish city of Elblag) gradually transformed into a highway that leads to the German capital. Since the aforementioned motorway ends in Berlin, that means the Berlin Bridge.
It should be noted that popular place names often acquire an official character. In official documents, the aforementioned wartime monument is listed as “a bridge across the New and Old Pregolya”. Naturally, such a name is very difficult for the ordinary person to perceive, but the “Berlin Bridge” sounds pathetic and beautiful, and it is likely that it will be called that way in documents.
Konigsberg divorce
Currently, the famous bridge has acquired several myths and some believe in them.
One of them is that the design of the Berlin is adjustable. The second myth follows from the first: they say that the bridge has been repaired by 50%, which means that the Russians were able to erect only one side of it. The design of the flyover can really be misleading.
During the war, when there were fierce battles for East Prussia, the Soviet Army was able to come close to the "Berlin". Our commanders decided not to bomb him, but to cross him in order to storm Kaliningrad. Having guessed the plans of the Russian army, the Germans mined it. Why was the bridge not drawn?
Some experts say that in reality, the “Berlin” had a precast-monolithic, rather than an adjustable design, which, among other things, assumed the risk of undermining with serious damage.
One way or another, but the soldiers of the Third Reich would be glad to build a bridge, but it’s impossible. Then the Germans blew it up, and the design turned "into a pipe wrench."
Was it really possible for the Russians to erect only one side of the Berlin? In the 60s of the last century, the building was repaired only by 50%, not because there was a risk: it could potentially “explode”. In fact, even one side ensured normal traffic, the amount of which in those years was not too large.
The content of Berlin is an expensive pleasure
At present, the situation with the Berlin Bridge in Kaliningrad is not simple. The existing design does not cope with the flow of cars, as a result of which multi-kilometer traffic jams form.
“The construction and restoration of roads is one of the priority tasks. It must be completed at an accelerated pace in order to be in time for the start of the world soccer championship, which will be held in 2018, ”officials emphasize.
Reconstruction of the above historical monument is not a cheap pleasure. However, the first steps towards this have already been taken: the federal authorities allocated 4.6 million rubles from the state treasury for the repair of Berlin.
The process of reconstruction of the bridge was planned as part of the second phase of the project "Construction of the southern bypass of Kaliningrad." The first turn was still not ready, as information became known that builders were demolishing the Berlin Bridge in Kaliningrad. “Finally, wait!” - said the inhabitants of the former Koenigsberg.
The design collapsed ...
However, in early January of this year, domestic media announced that as a result of the dismantling work, the Berlin Bridge collapsed on people in Kaliningrad. The situation was aggravated by the fact that as a result of this incident, 4 people died. Naturally, investigators immediately began to find out the reasons why the Berlin Bridge collapsed on people in Kaliningrad. As a result of the investigation, it became known that the tragedy occurred due to the banal non-observance of safety measures. Perpetrators were prosecuted.
What the project provides
According to the construction project, a new Berlin bridge (Kaliningrad) should appear along with the old one. Then the new design will take on the entire transport load, freeing the Berlin from it, which will subsequently be modernized. By such measures, the authorities want to solve the problem of traffic jams. Residents of the region are looking forward to the day when the old Berlin bridge is dismantled in Kaliningrad, and a modern six-lane overpass will appear in its place. The project involves three lanes on both sides (each 3.75 m long) and sidewalks.
According to the forecasts of the authorities, the project will be finally ready by 2016.
Construction work on modernization is in full swing, and the old structure can no longer be recognized.
Of course, some residents will experience real nostalgia for Berlin, but it is still necessary to upgrade the facility in order to solve the traffic jam problem. Well, the historical basis of the bridge will be preserved.