Nagatinsky metro bridge: From wooden Moscow to the city of the future

Connecting riverbanks

The construction of a bridge across the Nagatinskaya Poyma (Plain) began in the 1960s after the city boundaries were expanded. The marshy land was drained, treated and wooden houses with gardens were replaced by residential areas with blocks of flats. At the same time, a new course for the Moskva River was laid: the Nagatinskoye Spryamleniye (Alignment).

However, most of the residents of the new area encountered difficulties in moving around: it took them about an hour to cross the river and reach the Kozhukhovo District, for they had to use the Avtozavodsky Bridge.  Thus, it was decided to build a bridge across the Nagatiskoye Spryamleniye. The bridge was designed by the Giprotransmost Institute and built by Mostotrest. At the same time, construction of Proletarsky Prospekt (currently Andropova Prospekt) began, of an extension of the Zamoskvoretskaya metro line, and of the Likhachyov automobile plant facilities.

The bridge opened in 1969. It accommodated two types of transport: road vehicles and metro trains that went to the Kolomenskaya station (opened the same year). The bridge included two pavements (sidewalks), each 2.6 metres wide. The Nagatinsky Bridge remains Moscow’s longest metro bridge with a length of about 805 metres.

Today, the bridge connects several districts in the Southern Administrative Area: Nagatinsky Zaton, Nagatino-Sadovniki and Danilovsky.

Later improvements

However, decades of use have worn the bridge out and it required a major overhaul. Repairs began in June 2015 with replacing the paving and railing, upgrading utility lines, repairing the load-bearing structures, pavements, steps, etc. No road closure was required: three lanes in each direction remained open during the two year project.

In the meantime, the adjacent area underwent significant changes. As part of the ZIL Peninsula project, the former ZIL industrial area is being transformed into a new urban district. In the next ten years, some six million square metres of buildings will be built, including the ZILART residential area, social and business facilities, as well as improved embankments, parks, public gardens with bicycle lanes and walking paths.

A new life on the ZIL Peninsula

The construction of the Park of Legends sport and entertainment centre is almost finished. The area will include the Ice Palace that has already hosted the 2016 IIHF World Championship, the Olympic Synchronised Swimming Centre, the Ice Hockey Museum and the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame.

In December 2015, the Tekhnopark metro station opened between the Kolomnenskaya and Avtozavodskaya stations on the Zamoskvoretskaya (Green) Line. In September 2016, the Avtozavodskaya and ZIL stations on the Moscow Central Circle opened. Plans call for three pedestrian and two automobile bridges across the Moskva River. One of them will go along the MCC and will become an extension of Varshavskoye Motorway (a pedestrian bridge will connect them, too). Two more bridges will be laid across the old river bed.

Dream Island

The Nagatinskaya Poyma is in for big changes as well: the 100-hectare Dream Island amusement or children is being built. It will become a city themed park with amusement rides, the Panda Park (rope park), a cinema, a concert hall, a hotel, shops, cafes and even a yacht club. According to the developers, visitors of all ages will find something interesting at Dream Island, while tourists will be able to stay for a few daysin the park and immerse themselves in Moscow city life.

The area near the Nagatinsky metro bridge keeps changing: the adjacent Torpedo stadium is being renovated, and a new technology park is being built there.