Date :
Friday, December 15, 2023
Mosty is a small city in the Grodno region with a population of just under 15,000 people. It's no surprise that in a city with such a name, the main attraction is indeed a bridge.
The town is divided into two parts by the Neman River. For a long time, the only way for locals to cross to the opposite bank was by boats and a pontoon bridge. This caused a lot of inconveniences. Boats are not the safest mode of transport, and the pontoon bridge was often threatened by ice drift in the spring. The people of Mosty had to call in sappers who would blow up the ice on the river.
In the early 1970s, it was decided to build a permanent structure over the Neman – a suspension bridge. The project was initiated by E. Radkevich, the director of a local wood-processing plant.
In the winter of 1973, the new bridge was assembled and installed, and at the end of April, it was put into operation. Its length is 193 meters, and the width of the pedestrian part is one and a half meters. The new bridge not only made life easier for the residents of Mosty but also became a local attraction. It is the only suspension bridge of such length in Belarus. Moreover, it offers a stunning view of the Neman – one of the largest and most beautiful rivers in our country.
Like all suspension bridges, this one tends to sway. Nonetheless, it is quite strong and durable – the builders and designers took care of that. The city's residents confidently cross the bridge on foot, bicycles, and scooters. At the entrance to the bridge, there is a boulder that briefly tells the history of this Mosty landmark.
In the early 1990s, local authorities carried out a reconstruction of the structure – the bridge was reinforced, the cables and railings were updated, and the wooden decking was replaced. The structure has undergone two more reconstructions since then.
The people of Mosty and city guests enjoy walking across the bridge over the Neman at any time of the year, taking photos, and enjoying the picturesque surroundings. Next to the bridge is a beautiful park with coniferous trees, a children's playground, and a café.
The distance from Minsk to Mosty is 250 kilometers. You can reach the district center by train, minibus, or personal car. Finding the attraction itself is quite simple – there are signs in the city that guide travelers in the right direction.