Obukhovsky Bridge

59°55′18″N 30°19′04″E / 59.921694°N 30.317812°E / 59.921694; 30.317812

The Obukhovsky or Obukhov Bridge (Russian: Обуховский мост) is a bridge in St. Petersburg, Russia. It carries Moskovsky Prospekt over the Fontanka River.

It was originally built as a stone bridge in 1785–86 to replace a 1717 wooden bridge, and was named after the builder. It was substantially modified in 1865 and again in 1938–1940.^[1]

In literature

The bridge is mentioned at the end of Nikolai Gogol's short story, "The Overcoat". The main character, Akaky Akakievich —or a certain clerk— is rumored to appear as a ghost near the Kalinkin Bridge, searching for his stolen overcoat, and after the story's denouement is seen walking towards the Obukhov Bridge and vanishing into the darkness of the night.^[2]

References

^ Obukhovsky Bridge, St. Petersburg Encyclopedia (accessed 2014-02-03).
^ Boris Eichenbaum, "How The Overcoat is Made", Robert A. Maguire, ed., Gogol from the Twentieth Century: Eleven Essays (Princeton University Press, 1995), ISBN 978-0691013268, p. 291. Excerpts available at Google Books.

[1] Obukhovsky Bridge, St. Petersburg Encyclopedia (accessed 2014-02-03).

[2] Boris Eichenbaum, "How The Overcoat is Made", Robert A. Maguire, ed., Gogol from the Twentieth Century: Eleven Essays (Princeton University Press, 1995), ISBN 978-0691013268, p. 291. Excerpts available at Google Books.

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