The Bolshoy Okhtinsky Bridge over the Neva in St. Petersburg is considered one of the most beautiful drawbridges in the city. Its night lighting and opening spans leave an indelible impression. Built in 1911, it is neither the oldest nor the longest, but its design was bold and innovative for its time. Initially, contemporaries perceived it negatively, considering it bulky and disproportionate, but over time they appreciated its majestic beauty. In 2000, the bridge was successfully illuminated, making it an object of admiration and a subject for many photo reports. It is located near the Smolny Cathedral, and its silhouette can be seen at night among the opened spans of the bridge.

The bridge is 335 meters long and 26.5 meters wide, with a weight of its metal structures totaling 8,920 tons. It connects the Central District of St. Petersburg with the Krasnogvardeisky District, the historic suburb of Malaya Okhta. Thanks to the bridge, Suvorovsky Prospect through Tulskaya Street connects with Komarovsky Passage and Krasnogvardeiskaya Square. The area beyond the Neva got its name from the Okhta River, which divided it into Malaya and Bolshaya Okhta.

There is a legend that Peter I, visiting a shipbuilding yard on the right bank of the Neva, fell into the mud and exclaimed, "Oh, that side is tiresome to me!", which gave the area its name. However, it is more likely that "okhta" translates from Izhora-Finnish as "west". This area could have become the capital of the new Russia, as it was strategically important for reclaiming lands along the Gulf of Finland. Here stood the Swedish fortress Nyenschantz, which was captured by Russian troops in 1703. Peter I began the construction of the capital closer to the Gulf of Finland, while choosing Okhta for industrial production.

Initially, the connection with the city was made by boats and ferries, which was expensive for ordinary citizens. Ferry operators opposed the construction of the bridge, but the need for a crossing was evident. Emperor Nicholas I outlined the trajectory of the bridge back in 1829, but funds were lacking. The issue was raised again in 1860, but disagreements among entrepreneurs slowed the process. Only in 1884 was a location chosen for construction.

The construction of the bridge began after the tragedy with the steamboat "Arkhangelsk" in 1907, when 39 people died. The emperor ordered the urgent start of construction, and the project "Freedom of Navigation" by engineers Krivoshein and Apyskov was chosen. The bridge was laid in 1909 and opened in 1911. It became innovative in its design, consisting of three spans, the central one being drawbridge. The roadway was located below, while the side spans had metal arch-roofs. The lifting mechanisms raised the wings in 30 seconds, fully justifying the project’s name.

The bridge stood without repairs until 1971, and in the 1990s it was reconstructed. The draw span and lifting mechanisms were replaced, and the towers and decorative embellishments were restored. In 1997, the bridge was reopened. In 2000, artistic lighting was installed, making it one of the main attractions of the city. Now, passing under its opened wings at night, it seems like a gateway to a fairy-tale castle.