Solidarity Bridges

Solidarity Bridges (Polish: Mosty Solidarności) are a complex of six bridges (four road and two tram bridges) spanning the Brda and Młynówka rivers in Bydgoszcz, Poland. They serve as a vital east-west transportation corridor along Ferdynanda Focha Street and include two roadways and a tram line.

Location The bridges are located just north of Bydgoszcz's Old Town, connecting both banks of the Brda and Młynówka rivers. The route along Focha Street is one of the city's primary thoroughfares. Tram lines 1, 3, 5, and 8 run across the bridges.

Names Over time, the bridges and Focha Street have had several names reflecting political changes:

1840–1920 – Wilhelmsbrücke (Wilhelm Bridge) and Hafenbrücke (Port Bridge) 1920–1931 – Jagielloński and Portowy 1931–1939 – Marshal Ferdinand Foch Bridge 1939–1945 – Hermann Göring Brücke 1945–1949 – Ferdinand Foch 1950–1990 – Red Army 1990–2005 – Ferdinand Foch Since 2005 – Solidarity

The original names referred to Prussian royalty and Bydgoszcz's port. The current name commemorates the Solidarity movement.

History The first crossings were built before 1840, forming part of the route west from Bydgoszcz via Nakło and Piła.Monografia mostów województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego. Brda i Kanał Bydgoski. Tom II. Ed. Krzysztof Dudek. Bydgoszcz–Grudziądz 2012. Związek Mostowców RP Oddział Pomorsko-Kujawski. ISBN 978-83-934160-2-8.

Between 1885–1890, the original bridges were replaced: Wilhelmsbrücke and Hafenbrücke were rebuilt with modern materials and aligned straight across both rivers. They featured steel and stone elements, decorative railings, and gas lamps.

The bridges were destroyed by Polish troops in September 1939, then temporarily rebuilt by German forces and destroyed again in January 1945.

In the 1950s, two new road bridges were built in reinforced prestressed concrete – the first in Poland to use cable-concrete technology – designed by M. Bieniek, M. Wolf, and H. Żółtowski.

In the 1970s, due to deterioration, tram speeds were limited. New tram and road bridges were built (1977–1982), designed by Antoni Malczewski. The older bridges were then repaired and strengthened, a process completed in 1996.

In 2005, the Bydgoszcz City Council officially named the group of bridges "Solidarity Bridges". They are managed by the Municipal Roads and Public Transport Authority.

In 2019, unexpected wear on the southern bridges required additional structural repair, delaying completion until October.https://bydgoszcz.wyborcza.pl/bydgoszcz/7,48722,25174293,przykra-niespodzianka-pod-nawierzchnia-mostow-solidarnosci.html "Przykra niespodzianka pod nawierzchnią na mostach Solidarności", Gazeta Wyborcza, 9 Sep 2019

Technical details

Southern Port Bridge

Built: 1955 Type: Prestressed reinforced concrete, 3-span Length: 69.06 m (spans: 15.6 + 38.0 + 15.5 m) Width: 18.9 m (roadway 11.5 m, sidewalks 5.5 m) Load capacity: 40 tonnes

Southern Młynówka Bridge

Built: 1955 Type: Prestressed reinforced concrete, 3-span Length: 45.36 m (spans: 8.55 + 27.97 + 8.84 m) Width: 18.82 m (roadway 11.5 m, sidewalks 5.75 m) Load capacity: 40 tonnes

Tramway Port Bridge

Built: 1981 Type: Steel-concrete, 4-span Length: 70.78 m Width: 8.3 m (2 tram tracks)

Tramway Młynówka Bridge

Built: 1981 Type: Steel, 3-span Length: 48 m Width: 8.3 m

Northern Port Bridge

Built: 1981 Type: Steel-concrete, 4-span Length: 70.78 m (spans: 11 + 38 + 11 + 10.6 m) Width: 17.3 m (roadway 10.5 m, sidewalk 5.4 m) Load capacity: 30 tonnes

Northern Młynówka Bridge

Built: 1981 Type: Steel, 3-span Length: 48 m (spans: 10 + 28 + 10 m) Width: 17.3 m (roadway 10.5 m, sidewalk 5.4 m) Load capacity: 30 tonnes

Traffic The bridges handle one of the highest traffic volumes in Bydgoszcz. In 2006, peak hourly traffic reached around 2,330 vehicles.http://www.zdmikp.bydgoszcz.pl/?id=drogi_komunikaty Traffic report, 2006

Sightseeing The Solidarity Bridges offer views of Bydgoszcz landmarks such as the Bydgoszcz Cathedral, Opera Nova, and the Młyn Island. The Bydgoszcz Water Tram passes under the bridges several times daily (April to October).Operation period: April to October

Gallery

Solidarity Bridges

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