The Rusanivskyi Bridge (Русанівський міст) was a bridge spanning the Rusanivka Channel of the Dnieper River on the Brovary Highway; from 1906 to 1943, it connected Trukhaniv Island with Mykilska Slobidka. It was located within the current city limits of Kyiv.
History
During the construction of the Mykolaivskyi Chain Bridge in the mid-19th century, four wooden bridges were built to provide access to Mykilska Slobidka and the Brovary Highway. These bridges were frequently destroyed during spring floods.
Between 1903 and 1906, a metal bridge was constructed across the channel to replace the wooden onesКъ постройкѣ Русановскаго моста (On the construction of the Rusanivskyi Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1901. — № 254 — 14 сентября.Мостъ черезъ Русановскій протокъ // Kievlyanin. — 1903. — № 208. — 30 июля. The project was designed by engineers Mykola Bieleliubskyi and Hryhorii Kryvoshein, along with architect Volodymyr Apyshkov.
The new bridge featured two spans, each measuring 101.35 meters (47.5 sazhens) in length. A distinctive feature was the design of the load-bearing structures as metal two-hinged arches, rising 9.81 meters (4.6 sazhens) above the supports and 17.07 meters (8 sazhens) at the center of the span. The roadway—8.08 meters (3.8 sazhens) wide—and the two sidewalks—each 1.28 meters (0.6 sazhens) wide—were constructed of wood. The bridge was enclosed by metal railings standing 1.07 meters (1.5 arshins) high.
Traffic across the bridge opened on 11(24) October 1906. Освященіе и открытіе Русановскаго моста (Consecration and Opening of the Rusanovsky Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1906. — № 282. — 12 октября. — С. 3.
On 7(20) July 1908, the bridge's wooden decking burned down.Пожаръ желѣзнаго Русановскаго моста въ слободкѣ (Fire at the iron Rusanovsky Bridge in the settlement.) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 187. — 8 іюля. — С. 3.Къ пожару Русановскаго моста (On the fire at the Rusanivskyi Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 188. — 9 іюля. — С. 3. The following day, the Mykolaivskyi Chain Bridge also caught fire, though the blaze there was quickly extinguished.Покушеніе на поджогъ Николаевскаго цѣпного моста (Attempted Arson of the Nikolaevsky Chain Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 188. — 9 іюля. — С. 3. An investigation determined that the fires on both bridges were the result of arson.Къ пожарамъ Николаевскаго и Русановскаго мостовъ (On the fires at the Nikolaevsky and Rusanovsky bridges) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 189. — 10 іюля. — С. 3. The bridge decking was repaired shortly thereafter, and traffic resumed on 13(26) July 1908, under a temporary arrangement.Работы у Русановскаго моста (Work near the Rusanovsky Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 190. — 11 іюля. — С. 3.Ремонтъ Русановскаго моста (Repair of Rusanovsky Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 192. — 13 іюля. — С. 3.Къ ремонту Русановскаго моста (On the repair of the Rusanivskyi Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 194. — 13 іюля. — С. 3–4. Security at the bridges was stepped up to prevent further arson attacks.Охрана отъ пожаровъ Русановскаго и Николаевскаго мостовъ (Fire protection of Rusanovsky and Nikolaevsky bridges) // Kievlyanin. — 1908. — № 197. — 18 іюля. — С. 3. Major repairs to the wooden road surface and the metal components damaged by the fire were carried out between May and September 1909.Ремонтъ Русановскаго моста (Repair of Rusanovsky Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1909. — № 148. — 31 мая. — С. 3.Къ ремонту Русановскаго моста (On the repair of the Rusanivskyi Bridge) // Kievlyanin. — 1909. — № 259. — 19 сентября. — С. 2–3. In 1912, a petrol-powered tram service to Darnytsia began operating across the renovated bridge.
In June 1920, the Rusanivskyi Bridge—like all other Kyiv bridges spanning the Dnipro—was destroyed by retreating Polish troops. It was rebuilt between 1924 and 1925 based on a design by Professor Yevhen Paton. The tram line was electrified in the 1930s.
The bridge was blown up during the Red Army's retreat in September 1941. The Germans did not rebuild it, as it held no strategic value without a bridge spanning the main channel of the Dnipro. It was not restored in the post-war period either. In 1945 the metal structures were dismantled, and the remains of the spans were removed.
In 1965, the was built on the site to accommodate the left-bank section of the Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska metro line.
See also Bridges in Kyiv
References