Marshal Józef Piłsudski Bridge in Kraków

The Marshal Józef Piłsudski Bridge in Kraków connects Kazimierz (Krakowska Street) with Podgórze (Legionów Piłsudskiego Street) and is the oldest complete road bridge over the Vistula in the city that still stands today. It is popularly called the Second Bridge, and initially also the Fourth Bridge.

Construction and names

The decision to build was taken in August 1925, work began in September 1926, and the bridge was opened on 19 January 1933. It was designed by a team of engineers led by Prof. Andrzej Pszenicki, and the structure was built by the L. Zieleniewski Machine Factory. Until 1932 it was known as the Fourth Bridge, and in 1948-1990 it was the Tadeusz Kościuszko Bridge. The present name was restored in 1990.

Structure

It is a steel, riveted truss structure 147.5 m long and 18.5 m wide, weighing about 1,200 tonnes. It has two piers and three spans, of which the middle one is a two-hinged arch. The deck carries two traffic lanes, two tram tracks and pavements of about 3 m. The roadway is paved with basalt setts.

War and renovations

In January 1945 German troops blew up the bridge, and the southern span fell into the water. Until the reconstruction, completed in October 1948, a wooden footbridge was used. In 1934-1935 the approaches were rebuilt, demolishing a market hall and tenement houses. In 2020 a thorough renovation was carried out, including replacement of corroded rivets; the bridge also has illumination in blue, white and yellow.

From the bridge it is close to Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory, about 1.2 km, and on the other side of the river to the Old Synagogue, about 700 m.

Practical information

• Location: a crossing of the Vistula between Kazimierz and Podgórze, open to pedestrians, cars and trams.
• The bridge is part of a city route, and no ticket is needed to cross.