Since ancient times, bridges have been very important structures, because without them it was impossible to trade, travel, or reach any desired point in the shortest possible way. They connected the lands, helped to overcome water obstacles, ravines and gorges. Over time, bridges became an integral part of transport highways, they were built using the most amazing engineering technologies for their time, and some, due to their beauty and uniqueness, are considered monuments of architecture.
Today, Ukraine has a lot of bridges of different designs, large and small, automobile and pedestrian. Each of them is special, unique and interesting in its own way.
We bring to your attention the 15 most famous, most unique, oldest, and best bridges in Ukraine.
15. Havana Bridge, Kyiv
And in fifteenth place in our ranking is the Havana Bridge. This bridge is located in the city of Kyiv, connecting Rybalsky Island and Podil. It was created to relieve the traffic jam.
History of the bridge. The bridge was opened in 2007 and initially had only one side for traffic (Naberezhnoe Khreshchatykskaya - Obolon). But later, in 2010, two-way traffic was officially opened. The bridge is 380 meters long, 35 meters wide and has six support pylons. The name of the bridge comes from its location. It is at this place that the Harbor connects with the Dnieper. The city authorities' decision to open the Art Pier gallery under the bridge, which presents works of art by various masters, was very interesting.
14. Southern Bridge, Kyiv
The next place in our ranking was taken by the bridge, which is also located in the capital - the Southern Bridge. It connects the left and right banks of the city and is one of the components of the entire complex, which also includes a motorway interchange and Bazhana Avenue.
History of the bridge. The construction of the bridge lasted seven years and was completed in December 1990. The South Bridge is the highest bridge in the city, its height is 135 meters, length is 1256 meters, and width is 41 meters. The bridge includes 2 metro lines, 6 car lanes and sidewalks for pedestrians.
The Southern Bridge is the city's triple champion among bridges: in width, height, and length. It carries more than 90,000 vehicles of all kinds every day.
13. Merefo-Kherson Bridge, Dnipropetrovsk
The next bridge in our ranking is located in the city of Dnipropetrovsk and is called the Merefo-Kherson Bridge. It is a railway bridge that is recognized as a monument of engineering architecture.
History of the bridge. Construction of the bridge, designed by G. P. Perederia, began in 1912, metal supports were erected, but construction was interrupted by the war. Construction was resumed only in 1929, and the bridge was opened to trains in 1932. The Second World War did not spare the structure, the bridge was almost destroyed, but it was restored in 1951. The length of the bridge reaches 1610 meters, by the way, it is the longest reinforced concrete bridge in Europe.
12. Bridge of Lovers, Kyiv
Probably all lovers know the romantic Bridge of Lovers in Kyiv. It connects the City Garden and Khreshchaty Park. It is a place where lovers walk, newlyweds take wedding photos.
History of the bridge. Initially, the Bridge of Lovers was not for romance at all, it simply connected two important places for Kyiv residents. The bridge was built in 1910 by Yevgeny Paton, the father of electric welding. In 1983, the old bridge structures were transferred to the Museum, and new, exactly the same ones were built in their place. Now the Bridge of Lovers is completely covered with hundreds of locks left by couples dreaming of happiness as a sign of their love, and painted with thousands of declarations of love.
Legend has it that if you walk across this bridge with your loved one, you will never be separated.
11. Pedestrian bridge, Uzhhorod
Next in our ranking is the Pedestrian Bridge in Uzhhorod. It is a favorite place for city guests and residents. The bridge connects two embankments – Nezalezhna and Studentska. This bridge symbolizes love and the fulfillment of any desires.
History of the bridge. The history of the Pedestrian Bridge began in the 19th century, when the first wooden bridge was built here. When this structure was washed away by a rapid river, the bridge was restored in metal form. Then transport began to travel on the bridge. But after the war, a stone Pedestrian Bridge appeared on this site, in the form in which we see it now.
10. Preobrazhensky Bridges, Zaporizhia
The Preobrazhensky Bridges are two bridges that cross the Dnieper River and are located in Zaporizhia. They connect the island of Khortytsia and the two banks of the Dnieper.
History of bridges. The bridges were built for three years, from 1949 to 1952. Previously, there were other bridges on this site, but they were destroyed during the war. The main architect was Boris Preobrazhensky, in whose honor the bridges are named. The bridges were built of reinforced concrete, because in the post-war period there were problems with iron.
Externally, the bridges repeated the architecture of their predecessors – four arches over the Dnieper. Both cars and trains can drive on the bridges, as well as people can walk on them.
9. Teshchin Bridge, Odesa
The next position in our ranking is occupied by the capital of humor - the city of Odesa and a strange bridge, the name of which is Teshchyn Bridge.
History of the bridge. Legends say that the bridge was built in the 60s of the 20th century over a ravine. Such an order was issued by one respected figure, so he decided to shorten his way to his mother-in-law's house. This is the highest and narrowest bridge in Odessa. It connects the Kissing Bridge and the Vorontsov Palace.
8. Moscow Bridge, Kyiv
The eighth place in our ranking is occupied by the Moscow Bridge, which is located in the city of Kyiv.
History of the bridge. The bridge was opened for use in 1976. The bridge connects the right bank with Troyeshchyna, Raiduzhne, Voskresenka. The height of the bridge above the water level is 13 meters, the bridge has four lanes in each direction and allows approximately 65 thousand cars per day.
7. Paton Bridge, Kyiv
Next in our ranking is the Paton Bridge, located in Kyiv. This is another bridge across the Dnieper, the first all-welded bridge in the world. The name of the bridge comes from the name of academician Yevgeny Paton, whose design was used in the construction of the bridge.
History of the bridge. The bridge began to be built in 1940, a year later, due to the retreat of the Soviet troops, construction was suspended. In 1942, the Nazis continued construction. The built bridge was temporary and was named after the German military leader. In the fall of 1943, when the Nazis were retreating, the bridge was destroyed.
The bridge was later restored and opened in 1953. Its reconstruction was talked about many times, even projects were developed, but it was never implemented.
6. Bridge of the Four Evangelists, Transcarpathia
Another unique bridge is the Bridge of the Four Evangelists. The bridge is located in the Count Schönborn Park in the Transcarpathian region.
History of the bridge. The bridge was built in the Baroque style, one of the most beautiful architectural styles. On the bridge are sculptures of the four most famous evangelists - Mark, Matthew, John and Luke. They are located on both sides of the bridge structure. Around the bridge there is incredible beauty, under the bridge there are three arched openings from which water flows.
5. Arch Bridge, Zaporizhia
The fifth position in our ranking is occupied by the Arch Bridge, which is located in Zaporizhia and connects the right bank of the Dnieper with Khortytsia.
History of the bridge. The history of the bridge began in 1970, construction lasted four years. For the first time in the Soviet Union, a unique metal prefabricated beam was used, 205 meters long. The bridge is a road bridge, its length is 320 meters, width is 20 meters, and the height above the water is 40 meters. This is the longest arch bridge in Ukraine.
4. Amur (Old) Bridge, Dnipropetrovsk
Next in our ranking is the Amur (Old) Bridge in Dnipropetrovsk. Thanks to this bridge, the right bank was connected to the left.
History of the bridge. When the bridge was opened, it consisted of two tiers, on the lower tier there was a railway, on the upper one there was a road for transport and pedestrians. The length of the bridge reaches 1395 meters, and the width is 15.5 meters, which is very impressive for tourists. It should be noted that the bridge was built without a single weld. Throughout its history, the bridge was reconstructed several times, after which it received a modern look, with a passage for ships.
3. Ingulsky Bridge, Mykolaiv
In third place in our ranking is the city of Mykolaiv and its bridge across the Ingul River – Ingulsky Bridge.
History of the bridge. The bridge over the Ingul River was opened in 1981. The length of the bridge is 422 meters, the width is 18.5 meters, and two sidewalks for pedestrians are 2.25 meters each. The bridge has four lanes for traffic and a trolleybus line. In addition, the bridge is retractable, which allows ships to pass along the river.
2. Ternopil viaduct, Plebanivka
Another bridge in our ranking is the Ternopil Viaduct. It is located near the village of Plebanivka, in the Ternopil region. It is a beautiful nine-arch stone railway viaduct.
History of the bridge. The bridge was put into operation in 1896. It is called a viaduct because viaducts, not bridges, were built over gorges, ravines, and valleys, although, if you look at it from the side, it looks exactly like a bridge. For so many years, the bridge has stood firm thanks to its nine arches made of natural stone.
1. Old Austrian Bridge, Vorokhta
The winner of our ranking is one of the largest stone bridges in the world – the Old Austrian Bridge in the village of Vorokhta, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. It is an old railway bridge.
History of the bridge. The bridge was built by the Italians at the end of the 19th century on the Stanislav - Voronenko railway line and connected the two banks of the Prut River. It was designed by Lviv professor Zygmunt Kulka, and built by Stanislav Ravych-Kosinsky. The length of the bridge is 130 meters, and the width is 65 meters. Such construction is the first experience in Europe.
This is just a small part of the amazing bridges of Ukraine. There are many of them built in our country - famous and almost forgotten. And each of them deserves your attention and curiosity.
Author: Oksana Medynska.
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