In 1901 the city government was concerned about a necessity of construction of a new bridge on the place where Okhta River flows into the Neva. As a result of international contest in which engineers from the US, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Spain and Holland took part and after a special commission viewed dozens of plans, the plan of engineer G. Krivoshein and architect V. Apishkov was finally accepted.
Their revolutionary design was based on construction of three separate spans. The middle one is a draw span, designed to draw up quickly, allowing sea vessels to pass through. It takes only 30 seconds to pull Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge apart under the power of an innovative electrical mechanical system.
The two outer spans are outlined by massive 136-meter long arched girder contours that sharply contrast with surrounding buildings. Romanesque style granite towers border the center span. The gigantic girders of the bridge rise to an exceptional height of 22.6 meters. In fact, the design of the bridge is reminiscent of several railroad bridges, which span across the countryside far from the city.
Impressive granite towers capped off with lamps and designed in the image of lighthouses at each end of the elevating span are two other important features of the unique bridge. Rising above the girders these towers create an especially powerful impression. They are reminiscent of the style of middle-aged castles and awkwardly contract with the industrial style girders of the bridge.
On the both sides of the river in front of the bridge there are granite staircases. The bridge is illuminated with huge lamps. The first and only bridge of its kind in the "Northern" capital of Russia, it was opened for traffic on October 26, 1911.