The Bolshoi Kamenny bridge in Moscow

Prominent in the panorama of Moscow dating back to Peter the Great is the Bolshoi Kamenny Bridge, one of the most interesting projects of the time. People in Russia called it “the eighth wonder of the world” for its beauty. And so much money was spent on building it that “costlier than the Kamenny Bridge” became proverbial.

Already back in the 1640s Moscovites decided to build a big stone bridge across the Moskva River. The estimated cost was worked out and a large wooden model made long before actual building started. The bridge was completed in 1692. It was 140m long, 22m wide and rested on 9 arches, 7 of which stood in the water and two on the banks. The rough-stone supports were triangular on the western side, serving as ice cutters during spring thaws.

The architectural style of the bridge harmonized with the Kremlin. The Great Kamenny Bridge became a busy market centre and a favourite strolling place. Ceremonies were also held on the bridge at the approaches to the Kremlin.

The towers at the ends of the bridge were dismantled at the close of the 18^th century, and the bridge was totally overhauled in the early 19^th century. In 1857 the old stone structure was substituted by a new iron bridge which had three arches on stone supports. In 1938 the bridge was replaced by a steel structure on granite rests. The new bridge is four times longer and twice as wide as the old one. But the crossing preserves its historical name – the Bolshoi Kamenny.

EXERCISES

I. Match the Antonyms:

1. start 1. open
2. dismantle 2. begin
3. complete 3. wide
4. narrow 4. finish
5. close 5. assemble

II. Translate the underlined words:

1. нравиться, любить

like

2. подобный, похожий

1. Tourists from all over the world like wonderful St-Petersburg bridges. 2. The towers of the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge in Moscow had two tent- like roofs.

III. Translate the following attributive groups:

Old stone structure, modern steel bridge, new iron support, concrete pier, large reinforced concrete pier, long cast-iron pile, large reinforced concrete columns, steel pile cofferdam, steel sheet pile cofferdam.

IV. Translate the sentences into Russian, paying attention to the attributive groups:

1. The pier base is constructed within a steel pile cofferdam. 2. The bridge pier is built on the top of a group of large reinforced concrete columns. 3. The steel sheet pile cofferdam is being erected for three weeks. 4. The tubular columns are made of an open ended precast reinforced concrete tube 155m external diameter and 10cm thick.

V. Pay attention to the translation of the predicates:

1. The old bridge was a stone structure completed in 1692. 2. In 1857 the old stone bridge was to be replaced by a new one because of the demolishing of the piers. 3. In 1938 the bridge was replaced by a steel structure on granite rests. 4. The total length of the newly completed bridge is more than 500m. 5. Many old bridges are being reconstructed in Moscow now.

VI. Pay attention to the translation of the “-ed”-forms of the verbs:

1. The engineers designed this bridge last year. 2. The bridge designed entered into the general construction programme. 3. Designing the bridge the engineers faced a lot of difficulties. 4. When designed a bridge model was tested in the laboratory. 5. This bridge designed by the graduates of our institute meets all modern traffic requirements. 6. The bridge model tested corresponded to all bridge standards.

VII. Translate into English:

1. Старый мост нужно было реконструировать, так как он не удовлетворял требованиям движения. 2. Большой Каменный мост по архитектурному стилю вписывается в панораму Кремля. 3. Прежде чем началось строительство моста, была изготовлена большая деревянная модель. 4. Старый Каменный мост является достопримечательностью Москвы.

VIII. Why is a steel bridge called Kamenny Bridge?

IX. Read the following text without a dictionary:

AN UNUSUAL BRIDGE IN MOSCOW

A fine example of engineering developments in Russia is an unusual Luzhniki Bridge in Moscow. It is a two-level reinforced concrete structure across the Moskva River. The lower deck is used by trains of the underground system and the upper deck by road vehicles. A path for pedestrians is also provided and a station for metro passengers is also included at the lower level, the station being 46 ft above the water. The total length of the bridge is nearly 2650 ft consisting of a central arch with a span of 650ft and approach spans supported on trestles. The approach spans were constructed in a conventional manner. The central span was built on the bank of the river and then moved by means of two pontoons, lifted, and placed on supports. The weight of the central span is 5000 tons.

РИСУНОК

X. Contract the text. Make a plan of the text. Retell the text, according to the plan.

VII

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