The city of Kaliningrad, formerly called Koenigsberg, has an ancient history. The settlement was founded in 1255 on the islands on both banks of the Pregol River, through which bridges were built in the 14th century, uniting separate parts of the city into a single whole. From time to time, ancient structures undergo reconstruction. In the summer of 2016, overhaul of the High Bridge in Kaliningrad began. The work is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2017.
The city of seven bridges
All bridges of Koenigsberg, except for their direct purpose, performed defensive functions. Fearing an attack from Lithuania and Poland, residents of the city built fortifications in the form of towers with solid iron-studded oak gates in front of each of the bridges. In the bridge piers there were rooms from which through the embrasures it was possible to fire at an approaching enemy.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, the Pregolya River was widely used for shipping. Therefore, the design of each of the bridges included a draw mechanism, which provided for the possibility of passing barges and ships with high masts. Since the construction of the railway connecting Kaliningrad with Chernyakhovsk, Pregolya has lost the status of an important transport artery. Therefore, the need to build bridges has disappeared. Only the High bridge in Kaliningrad until recently retained this function. Its mechanism was periodically activated for preventive purposes and for piloting commercial vessels.
History of construction, repairs and reconstructions
The high bridge in Kaliningrad, or rather in Koenigsberg, was built in 1520. A wooden ferry across the river connected the Forshtadt district with the island of Lomse. Only after three and a half centuries, it was decided to reconstruct the bridge. In 1882, brick supports were strengthened, the wooden parts of the structure that had fallen into disrepair were replaced with metal ones. In the same period, a small building was erected here, which housed the levers and mechanisms with which the bridge was built.
Interestingly, for some reason, the local population dubbed this building, essentially a booth of a bridge caretaker, a castle or a pavilion of Munchausen. The reason for this, apparently, was the fabulous outlines of the house, although it was built 100 years later than the time when the real prototype of the famous baron lived.
Large-scale alteration of the High bridge in Kaliningrad underwent in 1939. The old building was completely dismantled. Having retreated a few meters from the old brick supports, they built new concrete trusses on which a solid metal flooring was installed.
The need for modern reconstruction
In the spring of 2016, the city authorities decided to repair the traffic intersection at the intersection of Bagration, Dzerzhinsky and Oktyabrskaya Streets, that is, the area where the High Bridge is located. In Kaliningrad, as you know, several matches will be held as part of the final stage of the 2018 World Cup. The city began to prepare for this event in advance, updating not only sports facilities, but also the appearance of the streets.
As part of this program, it was decided to reconstruct the High Bridge in Kaliningrad. The project is financed from the regional budget, the progress of construction work is taken under personal control by the head of the city, Alexander Yaroshuk. According to expert estimates, the deterioration of the structure reached about 80%. Therefore, the old structure will be completely dismantled, and in its place a new bridge will be erected that meets modern requirements.
How the updated High Bridge will look
Kaliningrad, photos of the sights of which may appear on new banknotes, carefully preserves its history. But, according to the authorities and architectural departments of the city, the High Bridge does not belong to objects of cultural heritage.
Despite this, all dismantling works are carried out with utmost care so as not to destroy the main components of the structures. Separate fragments of the movable mechanism are planned to be transferred to the museum, and the old paving stones found under the asphalt pavement of the bridge will be used to improve city streets.
The width of the bridge after reconstruction will increase by 3 meters. There will be organized four-lane traffic. Along the two inner lanes of the carriageway, tram tracks are planned. Both sides of the bridge are equipped with pedestrian sidewalks and paths for cyclists.
Construction Incidents
In the summer of 2016, when work was carried out to dismantle the spans of the High Bridge, divers who had to disassemble the underwater components of the structure had to face unforeseen difficulties. A huge fish weighing more than 200 kilograms periodically appeared in the construction area, terrifying people.
It turned out that it was a catfish living in a pit nearby. According to the deputy head of the city administration of Kaliningrad, Arthur Krupin, divers tried to carry out all the necessary actions with utmost care so as not to disturb the river inhabitant and not frighten him from their homes.