Vytautas Magnus Bridge in Kaunas

About object:

Vytautas Magnus Bridge is of strategic importance, since it connects the Old Town of Kaunas with the upright slopes of Aleksotas on the other side of the Nemunas River. In different times the bridge was wooden, pontoon, reinforced with steel arches (during the interwar period, it was called Vytautas Magnus Bridge at the time), however it acquired its today form after the war, i. e. in 1948 (architect L. Kazarinskis), by using certain parts of the pre-war bridge.
The bridge is valuable both technically and historically. Its middle, i. e. lifting part and its mechanisms, which, unfortunately, were covered by concrete, is of especial importance. When reconstructing the bridge there were not enough funds to rebuild the said part. The rails also did not stand the test of time therefore the author of the reconstruction designed steel support pillars instead.
When designing the new elements, the architect referred to the pylons in the middle of the bridge, i. e. the height of the new lights had to be the same as the pylons (8.5 meters) and the handrails and street protective walls had to be of the same solemn restraint. At present the reconstructed Vytautas Magnus Bridge is a work in the Art Deco style, inspiring life into its environment and decorating the city (especially in the evening, with its glowing blue lights).

A. Štelbienė