{{Short description|Bridge in Saint Petersburg, Russia}} thumb|Gilded wings of lion statues '''Bank Bridge''' (Russian: ''Bankovsky most'', ''Банковский мост'') is a {{convert|25|m|sp=us|abbr=on|adj=on}} long and {{convert|3.1|m|sp=us|abbr=on|adj=on}} wide single-span beam pedestrian bridge crossing the Griboyedov Canal near the former Russian Assignation Bank in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It connects {{ill|Kazansky Island|ru|Казанский остров}} and {{ill|Spassky Island|ru|Спасский остров}} in the city's Tsentralny District.<ref name="BM">{{cite web|url=https://mostotrest-spb.ru/bridges/bankovskij|work=mostotrest-spb.ru|title=Банковский мост|language=ru|access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref> The bridge is in front of, and takes its name from, the former Assignation Bank building (now housing the Saint Petersburg State University of Economics).<ref name="ESP1"/>
The bridge was one of six suspension bridges built between 1823 and 1826.<ref name="CB">{{cite web |first=V. I. |last=Kochedamov|url=https://www.russianlaw.net/files/art/kochedamov/c_mosty_web.pdf|title=ЦЕПНЫЕ МОСТЫ В ПЕТЕРБУРГЕ ПЕРВОЙ ЧЕТВЕРТИ XIX ВЕКА|trans-title=Chain Bridges in Saint Petersburg in the First Quarter of the 19th Century|language=ru|access-date=28 October 2025|pages=210-220}}</ref> The design for the Bank Bridge, and another farther upstream (later known as the Bridge of Lions), were approved on 18 February 1825, with construction expected to be completed by October of that year. Difficulties during the construction process delayed completion until the middle of the following year.<ref name="CB"/> It opened on {{Old Style to New Style|24 July|1826|5 August}}, with more than 9,000 people crossing it on the opening day.<ref name="BM"/> The bridge engineer was {{ill|Wilhelm von Traitteur|ru|Треттер, Вильгельм}}, who conceived of a pedestrian separation structure suspended by cables.<ref name="ESP1">{{cite web |first=D. Yu.|last=Guzevich|first2=S. Z.|last2=Suponitsky|first3=N. M.|last3=Kozlovskaya|url=https://encspb.ru/object/2804005855|work=encspb.ru|title=Банковский мост|language=ru|access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref> He was an engineer who also built other bridges over the Griboyedov Canal, Fontanka and Moika.<ref name="ESP2">{{cite web |first=D. Yu.|last=Guzevich|first2=I. D.|last2=Guzevich|url=https://encspb.ru/object/2804008719?lc=ru|work=encspb.ru|title=Треттер Вильгельм фон (1788-1859), инж.-мостостроитель|language=ru|access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref> The general management of the bridge construction was carried out by colonel E. A. Adam.
The bridge has sculptures of four winged lions crowning the abutments. They were designed by sculptor {{ill|Pavel Sokolov (sculptor)|ru|Соколов, Павел Петрович (скульптор)|lt=Pavel Sokolov}} (1764–1835), who also contributed lions for Bridge of Lions and sphinxes for Egyptian Bridge.<ref name="ESP3">{{cite web |first=O. L.|last=Leykind|first2=D. Ya.|last2=Severyukhin|url=https://encspb.ru/object/2804030158?lc=ru|work=encspb.ru|title=Соколов П.П., (1764-1835), скульп.|language=ru|access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref> Casting the metal parts for the bridge was carried out by the {{ill|Proletarian Works|ru|Пролетарский завод|lt=Aleksandrovsky Iron Foundry}}, but the chains were delayed until December, and the lions until March 1826. The bridge began to be assembled in spring that year, with the Bridge of Lions opening on 1 July 1826, and the Bank Bridge on 24 July. von Traitteur wrote "regarding the lions and griffins themselves, I do not in any way claim their appearance to be accurate, for it is the sculptor's job to give their models all the beauty they are capable of. Since this work requires a talented artist and the necessary time, I referred this matter to Academician Sokolov, whom I know for his talent."<ref name="CB"/> The company paying for the bridge objected to the price of Sokolov's work, who charged 1,000 rubles per statue, but von Traitteur insisted "this item is not subject to negotiation."<ref name="CB"/> Sokolov sculpted the griffins between May and September 1825, and created alabaster molds. They were initially intended to be embossed from copper sheets, but were later cast in cast iron, with only the wings made from copper, which, along with the small decorations, were gilded.<ref name="CB"/> thumb|right|A lion of the Bank Bridge on a 1 ruble coin The bridge underwent numerous repairs and restorations, as well as structural modifications. In 1949 the wooden cover of the bridge was repaired, and later in 1951–1952 the wooden bearing structure of the bridge was replaced by a metal one. In 1967 and 1988 the gilding of the lions' wings was renovated. In 1997 the sculptures and handrail lattice were restored.<ref name="ESP1"/> In 2007-2008 Griboyedov Canal Embankment from Kazan Cathedral to the Bank Bridge was renovated. Today the bridge is one of three surviving pedestrian chain bridges in the city, along with Pochtamtsky Bridge and the Bridge of Lions.<ref name="BM"/> Nowadays the winged lions are the symbol of Saint Petersburg State University of Economics. The bridge has the status of an object of federal significance on the Russian cultural heritage register.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ru-monuments.toolforge.org/wikivoyage.php?id=7810694002|title=Банковский мост с грифонами|language=ru|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ru-monuments.toolforge.org/get_info.php?id=781710784870036|title=Мост Банковский с грифонами|language=ru|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Bank Bridge}}
{{Crossings navbox |structure = Bridges |place = Griboyedov Canal |bridge = Bank Bridge |bridge signs = |upstream = Kazansky Bridge |upstream signs = |downstream = Flour Bridge |downstream signs = }} {{Authority control}} {{coord|59|55|56|N|30|19|30|E|region:RU_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Pedestrian bridges in Russia Category:Bridges in Saint Petersburg Category:Bridges completed in 1826 Category:1826 establishments in the Russian Empire Category:Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Saint Petersburg