The Saratov Bridge is a 50-year-old symbol of the city

The Saratov Bridge is one of the main attractions of the Volga region. Since its inception, it has become a symbol of the city and continues to be so until now. In 2015, the bridge turned 50 years old. By the jubilee he was prepared in the process of overhaul, in fact he got a second birth. Half a century is not a long time and a worthy occasion to recall the past, to take a closer look at the present.

Briefly about the main

The automobile bridge stretches over the Volga almost three kilometers. It connects two cities: the right bank of the great river is occupied by the Saratov, and the left - by Engels. The width of the structure is 15 m. The height of the Saratov bridge is variable. In the Engels area, the construction is reduced. Closer to Saratov, the bridge is much higher: the maximum value is 20 m. Here is the shipping zone.

Walking to the beach

The Saratov Bridge today is divided into three automobile lanes. And of course, there are pedestrian paths here. Every summer the residents and visitors of the city get to the beach, located in the middle of the Volga on the island "Pokrovsky Sands" (Pokrovsk - the old name of Engels). A fairly long period in the history of transport on the bridge did not stop and you could sunbathe and swim only after a long walk. Now one of the buses "Saratov-Engels" delivers everyone who wishes directly to the entrance to the beach.

To reach on foot to the golden sand as a whole is not difficult. But the journey from Saratov to Engels or in the opposite direction without transport is a feat. The length of the Saratov Bridge, in fact, is not so great for fans of hiking. However, a traveler often meets a strong wind, creating a beautiful ripple on the Volga and a persistent ringing in the ears after the end of the journey. There are also ups and downs. However, all difficulties recede into the background in front of the beauty of the opening view. Mighty, wide river, both cities, viewed from the middle of the bridge - there is something to admire at any time of the year.

Great construction

The history of the Saratov bridge began in the fifties of the last century. The initial draft has undergone several changes and improvements. It was suggested, for example, to build a two-tiered structure so that both trains and motor vehicles could go along it. In 1956, the plan was approved. Construction began six months later from the Engel shore. The works were preserved not only in the memory of participants and in photographs. The repair was filmed: right on the stage, director Oleg Yefremov created the film "The Bridge Is Being Constructed" with the participation of actors from Moscow's Sovremennik.

The main decoration of the bridge - the so-called birdies, under which ships sail - were installed already in the next decade. Each of them weighs about 2.6 tons, but because of the openwork design it seems very easy. Nearly two thousand workers worked on the bridge. By their diligence, the main attraction of the city was created in six years.

Opening

The Saratov Bridge began its work on July 10, 1965. The strength of the structure before the opening was subjected to serious verification. On the bridge, 250 loaded MAZs were allowed to pass. The test for strength was put on "excellent".

On the opening day, residents of the two cities met in the middle of the bridge. So the story of Saratov's main sight began .

Repairs

Half a century for reinforced concrete structures is quite serious. Already in the 90's came the question of the need for repair work. Impossibility to postpone the reconstruction became evident later, in 2004. Then the contact network was damaged , the legendary trolley bus No. 9 had to be removed from the bridge, problems with lighting started.

Major repairs were carried out in 2014. On the bridge, the asphalt was changed, the condition of sidewalks, lighting supports improved. The waterproofing was completely redone. Workers replaced deformation seams, which for a long time produced a strong roar when moving vehicles along them. At the time of repair, the bridge was closed for transport and pedestrians.

The work was completed two months ahead of schedule, at the end of August 2014. The renewed bridge, according to forecasts of experts, will serve about 15 more years, and then, probably, will become pedestrian.

And again the opening

The second opening of the bridge was celebrated as splendidly as the first. A lot of people gathered for the celebration. Here you could see a different Saratov bridge: a photo and video of the construction of a half-century old was superimposed on the modern picture. All this created a sense of belonging not only to a new discovery, but to the creation of a bridge.

The celebration was decorated with bikers and lit up fireworks. On the bridge, a trolleybus No. 9 was launched, specially released to this day (the route, however, is not yet being reconstructed). The celebration of the second opening of the bridge became just as solemn as in 1965.

Today the Saratov Bridge continues to be the main attraction of the city. It is especially good in the evening and at night, when the road illuminated by lanterns is reflected in the Volga. Of course, the repair did not solve all the problems. No bridge will serve forever, and even now possible options for the projects of its "deputies" are discussed. As before, the main inconvenience is eternal traffic jams. By the way, the bridge had to be four-lane, but its width was reduced in order to save. They say Khrushchev himself gave the decree about this. Despite all the problems, the main attraction of Saratov continues to attract tourists and romantics and remains one of the symbols of the city.