KIERBEDŹ BRIDGE: A History of the First Permanent Bridge Across the Vistula River in Warsaw, Poland

There are different ways of preserving historical bridges that have been practiced in Poland. The unique idea of protection is offered by the Road and Bridge Research Institute in Warsaw through PONTISEUM that was officially opened in 2014. The article presents the concept of this outdoor exhibition by discussing the history of the first metal bridge that was constructed over Vistula river in Warsaw between 1859 and 1864. The bridge was initially named Alexander Bridge and later Kierbedź Bridge. It was destroyed twice, during World War I and II. Finally, a new bridge structure was built at its location. However, some of Kierbedź Bridge fragments survived at the river bottom. In 2011 they were discovered and taken out of the Vistula. Following anti-corrosion treatment they have been displayed on the premises of the Road and Bridge Research Institute together with fragments of Warsaw’s other first permanent bridges.