Hermitage Bridge

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name=Hermitage Bridge
Эрмита́жный мост

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caption=
official_name=
carries=traffic and pedestrian
crosses=Winter Canal
locale=Saint Petersburg
maint=
id=
design=Arch Bridge
mainspan=
length=22.1 m
width=15.2 m
height=
load=
clearance=
below=
traffic=
open=1720 (wooden), 1766
closed=
toll=
map_cue=
map_

map_text=
map_width=
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lat=
long=The Hermitage Bridge ( _ru. Эрмита́жный мост) is a bridge across the Winter Canal along Palace Embankment in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The bridge constitutes part of the Palace Square ensemble.

History

The original bridge was a three-span wooden drawbridge constructed in 1718-20 by Herman van Boles, immediately after the canal near the Winter Palace was completed. This bridge was narrow, allowing passage of only one cart at a time.

The permanent stone bridge was built in 1763-66, in conjunction with building of granite embankments of the Neva River, by the project of engineer A. D. Sapestein and architect K. M. Dmitriev. Today, Hermitage Bridge remains the oldest stone bridge in Saint Petersburg. [cite book
title= Мосты Ленинграда
last=Бунин М. С.
first=
authorlink=
coauthors=
year=1986
publisher=
location=Saint Petersburg
isbn=
pages=158–61 ]

Originally the arch of the bridge was built from brick and limestone with granite exterior. In 1934 it was replaced with the new monolithic hinge-free ferroconcrete arch, but the granite facade was preserved. [cite web
url=http://www.saint-petersburg.com/bridges/hermitage-bridge.asp
title=Hermitage Bridge
accessdate=2008-08-19
work=
publisher=
date= ]

In 1950, the original decor of ramps was restored.

Name

On April 20, 1738, the bridge received its first official name of "Upper Embankment Bridge" ( _ru. "Верхний Набережный мост") after the Upper Embankment street (today's Palace Embankment). However, this name didn't catch on. The name "Winter Palace Bridge" ( _ru. "Зимнедворцовый мост") after the nearby Winter Palace started to circulate in the middle of 18 century. From the end of 18 century the bridge was renamed to "Palace Bridge" (not to be confused with the modern Palace Bridge). The current name was established in 1929. The Hermitage Bridge name came from the Hermitage Theater which was built by that time between Winter Canal and Winter Palace. [cite web
url=http://www.nevariver.ru/bridges/ermitazhniy.php
title=ЭРМИТАЖНЫЙ МОСТ
language=Russian
accessdate=2008-08-19
work=
publisher=
date= ]

References

Crossings navbox
structure = Bridges
place = Winter Canal
bridge = Hermitage Bridge
bridge signs =
upstream = none
upstream signs =
downstream = First Winter Bridge
downstream signs =