In the 20th century, the level of the Moskva River dropped significantly, and the problem of water shortages arose in the city. The Moscow-Volga canal, built in the 1930s, helped to solve this problem and the water level in the river increased. However, at the same time, it became necessary to build new bridges to ensure navigation. This was carried out in accordance with Stalin's General Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of Moscow. In just a year and a half, several unique bridges were built, including the Bolshoi Ustyinsky Bridge, which connects Yauzsky Boulevard with Sadovnichesky Proyezd.
Old Bridge
The first Ustinsky bridge in Moscow was built in 1881. It was located a little lower down the river than the modern one. Engineer W. Shpeiner supervised the construction of the bridge. The metal structure was supported by two stone bullocks equipped with ice cutters. A new road was laid to the bridge, and a crowd market was organized near it. Rails were laid for public transport of that time - horse-drawn carriages. Subsequently, thesethe rails were replaced by trams.
Big Ustinsky Bridge
In 1938, according to the design of the designer V. Vakhurkin and the architects G. Golts and V. Sobolev, a new bridge was built upstream. Its steel structure rests on underground pillars and gives the impression of floating in the air. The length of the bridge is 134 m, the width is 34 m. The total weight of the structure is 2.2 thousand tons. The project also included the construction of a lighthouse tower, but it was not built. Tram rails have been preserved on the bridge.
Slightly above the bridge, on the Moskvoretskaya embankment, there is the pier "Big Ustyinsky Bridge". From there you can make a variety of excursions along the Moscow River. This pier is very easy to get to, next to the metro station "Kitai-Gorod". Parking is equipped near the pier.
Annushka
In 1911, a tram was launched along the Bolshoi Ustyinsky Bridge. The beginning of the route began at the Yauza Gate, passed along the boulevard ring and the Kremlin, Moskvoretskaya and Prechistenskaya embankments. Tram passengers could admire Moscow sights and beauties. From the tram window you can see the monuments to Gogol and Pushkin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, views of the Kremlin. The conductor on this route was the writer K. Paustovsky. This tram is mentioned in M. Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita". Now several Annushka trams have been converted into cafes and you can take a pleasant tour of Moscow on them. Various festivals are also held there.corporate evenings.
Yauzsky Boulevard
Several interesting historical sites have survived to this day on Yauzsky Boulevard. Big house No. 2/16 (built in 1936 according to the project of the architect Golosov) became popular after the release of the film "Pokrovsky Gates". Not far from this house is the house of the son-in-law of M. I. Kutuzov, General Khitrovo. Now there is a medical school. The general received permission to organize a market for selling vegetables and meat. This is how the famous Khitrov market arose, which became a hangout for vagrants, beggars and runaway convicts. The famous Khitrovka was described in the books of Gilyarovsky and Korolenko. Artists of the Moscow Art Theater gathered in the tavern "Katorga" to study the life of vagrants for Gorky's play "At the Bottom". All the houses in the district were turned into bunkhouses and brought huge income. After the revolution, some of the shelters were destroyed, and some were turned into communal apartments.
In Petropavlovsky Lane you can see the Church of Peter and Paul on Kulishki with a bell tower built in 1772. There is also a small priest's house.
It is impossible not to mention the house on the Kotelnicheskaya embankment that completes the prospect. This is one of the famous Moscow skyscrapers, "Stalin's Empire". This building - the third tallest among skyscrapers (after Moscow State University and the hotel "Ukraine") - was built according to the project of the architect Chechulin. It was built by prisoners who lived in the Lagpunkt nearby. Many senior officials from the NKVD and the Foreign Ministry lived there. They say that Stalin personally distributed the apartments there. This house is more than oncewas filmed. We see him in Stilyagi, films Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears, Brother and many others.
Moscow experts can tell many interesting stories related to Yauzsky Boulevard and the surroundings of Ustinsky Bridge.
