Necessary, functional, elegant (and expensive). Such are the pedestrian and bicycle Berdychov Bridges in Poznań. Today at 6 pm the ceremonial opening of the double crossing, which will conveniently connect the Old Town with the Polytechnic University and Lake Malta. In doing so, it managed to avoid the drawbacks of the famous Warsaw footbridge and... finish the investment ahead of schedule. Any downsides? There are. They can be fixed.
A public investment opened ahead of schedule is a rarity in Poznan, especially after the recent slips with the reconstruction of the city center. This time is different. Today, February 28, rather than in the spring, the City is opening an important pedestrian and bicycle crossing connecting the Old Town with Ostrow Tumski and the campus of Poznan University of Technology, the settlements of the Rataje district and the area around Lake Malta (Malta).
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn, view from above the single-family housing of Zagórze on Ostrów Tumski towards St. Roch Bridge. On the left - Politechnika, on the right - Stara Gazownia
Source: Poznan Municipal Investments, www.poznan.pim.pl
The crossing consists of two bridges. Previously they were called footbridges, but due to the significant width and increased load capacity (possible passage of vehicles of fire departments and other services) there has been a change, which probably won't catch on, or both terms will be used interchangeably. The first bridge - over the Warta River - connects Chwaliszewo and the area near the Old Gasworks with the southern tip of Ostrów Tumski (Zagórze). The second - over a much narrower ulga riverbed - connects the promontory with the Polytechnic University campus and leads toward Berdychowo Street leading toward Malta. The lengths of the bridges are respectively: 165 and 117 meters. Each structure is a single span without additional supports in the river current and floodplain.
Berdychowo Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - bridge over the Warta River, view from under the wall of the Old Gasworks, with the Polytechnic and the rectorate under construction in the background (second from right)
photo: Jakub Głaz
fortunately from the competition
The elegant, lightweight arches of the two bridges (or footbridges, however) blend in very well with their surroundings (we already showed them in autumn after the installation was completed). They do not compete with the silhouette of the cathedral dominating the Cathedral Island. They are contemporary, but have a timeless character and do not in any way try to make a strong presence. Instead, they complement the fork of the river and its relief channel very well. A consortium of studios and architects, which won the competition for the new crossing in mid-2018, is responsible for this subtle and engineering-heavy design. The project team consisted of designers Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski (ARPA), Błażej Szurkowski (SKI Studio), Maciej Sokolnicki (MS86A) and Adam Turczyn.
Berdych Bridge in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - bridge over the Warta River, view of the Technical University, February 14, 2025,
photo: Jakub Glaz
We should add that the competition was a salvation from the very bad idea for the footbridges presented by the City in late 2015. They were to be built as a rather haphazard and visually fatal conglomeration of the historic trusses of the railroad bridge in Poznań's Starołęka district (a new structure was built in its place). And while this type of recycling of old structures makes sense, it certainly doesn't in this location. The proposal was successfully protested by architects and activists, and the trusses (if PKP takes proper care of them) would be worth using in the construction of footbridges in other, less exposed locations.
Berdych Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn, view from St. Roch Bridge, 27.02.2025
photo: Jakub Głaz
However, it took a long time from the competition to construction, as funding problems arose along the way . The crossing, which according to initial (and probably over-optimistically calculated) estimates was to cost 20 million zlotys in 2019, eventually became more expensive to... 156 million, 100 of which came from government funding (New Deal). We wrote about these perturbations and fortunately unsuccessful attempts to "slim down" the project in more detail two years ago. In the end, a sizable injection of government money decided the construction, whose fate was already hanging in the balance. After all, if the City had abandoned the investment, 100 million would have returned to the central budget. However, the price for the bridges is controversial in the city, with critics comparing it to the lower amount spent on a "normal" road bridge over the Warta River in Puszczykowo, near Poznań. The cost of the Berdychov bridges was explained by decision-makers in rather tongue-in-cheek terms. They pointed to the demanding and expensive single-span structures without supports, the need to increase the carrying capacity, and - customarily - threw in the effects of pandemics, inflation and the war in Ukraine.
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - bridge over the Warta River towards the Old Gasworks, a separate lane for bicycles is visible
source: Poznan Municipal Investments, www.poznan.pim.pl
not only bridges
Construction by Budimex began in the summer of 2023 and went very smoothly. Today, the builders are commissioning not only the bridge structures, but also the attractively landscaped promontory of Ostrów Tumski, the seat-combined stairs at the bridges , and the ramps and ramps leading to the riverside bicycle and pedestrian route (the so-called Wartostrada) on the lower level. Spacious seats lined with wood were created at the bridge entrances and the promontory . Benches are also located at both crossings. Discreet and evenlighting, on the other hand, was hidden in the aluminum handrails of the glass balustrades. As we read on the website of the company leading the investment, Poznańskie Inwestycje Miejskie:
The selection of the luminaires and the development of a technically appropriate solution were carried out by the contractors in cooperation with the Department of Metrology, Electronics and Lighting Technology at the Poznań University of Technology, under the supervision of the Municipal Road Administration staff.
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn
Source: Poznan Municipal Investments, www.poznan.pim.pl
Lanterns of a more traditional form were also erected in the areas adjacent to the bridge. The slopes of the riverside escarpments were planted with shrubs and low vegetation, and the concrete walls of the ramps are to be overgrown with vines. New trees have also been planted at the entrances to the bridges. The effect of these works will only be fully revealed in a few months. The most important thing now will be to functionally test the bridges, which will allow not only cyclists and pedestrians of Poznań to move much faster and in a pleasant way, but also tourists. Today, the pedestrian route from the Old Town to the cathedral leads through narrow sidewalks over the very unfriendly Chrobry Bridge (we wrote about it a few months ago). Now the road will lead through quiet Zagórze (which the owners of the terraced houses isolated here until recently are not likely to be happy about). There is also a chance that the bridges will not be crowded, even with heavy tourist traffic. Their considerable width will probably avoid congestion. The bridge over the Warta River measures 11.5 meters at its widest central point , and 8.5 at the entrances. The bridge over the relief canal is a meter narrower in the middle (10.5).
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - cross section through the bridge/bridge over the Warta River
source: FB / Bicycle Poznan
continued someday
On the other hand, the situation at both entrances to the crossing looksworse. It's true that both bridges are connected quite neatly with the riverside routes (Wartostrada on the Old Town side and Rychlewskiego Street along the Polytechnic campus), but it's bad further on. Municipal services are just preparing an extension of the bike path and sidewalk toward Malta along Berdychowo Street (to be built in the second half of the year). For now, the fairly short but unfriendly ride to the lake leads along a narrow and often congested roadway.
Berdychowo Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn, a broken bicycle path and sidewalk on the route towards Lake Maltese through the campus of the University of Technology
Photo: Jakub Głaz
On the Old Town side, the crossing in turn targets... the historic wall of the Old Gasworks. This is not a mistake, because from the very beginning it was planned that the former gas plant would finally open up and provide a new, very attractive space in the center. Behind the wall, however, the parking lot of the gas companies occupying the attractive historic buildings is still visible. So far, the City has not come to an agreement with them on joint activities and making the area available, despite the fact that a competition to create a cultural center in the Gasworks was held 13 years ago.
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - Old Gasworks area, view from under the outlet of the bridge over the Warta River. ultimately, the area is to become publicly accessible
photo: Jakub Glaz
Despite these shortcomings, Poznań's crossing is still more functional than Warsaw's showpiece footbridge over the Vistula, commissioned a year ago, where the problem is the mixing of cyclists and pedestrians. Thanks to the efforts of the Bicycle Poznań association, the originally unplanned separation of bicycle and pedestrian traffic was introduced . A two-way lane for cyclists is located on the south side of the bridges, at some distance from the railings. Here, however, is the scandal: the distance between the railing and the lane seems too small - especially at the entrance to the bridges (in the middle it is better, because the crossing widens and there is more space). It would be better to move the bike lane to the middle line of the drainage to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from colliding in this way. This can easily be done in the future.
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn, visible tight passage between balustrade and bike lane (0.5 m)
Photo: Jakub Głaz
Berdychowskie bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - entrance from the side of the Old Gasworks, with the Technical University in the background
photo: Jakub Glaz
clearance for drunks?
The railings themselves also need correction. Made of transparent glass, they are bound to become a trap for birds. Naturalists, ornithologists and activists intervened on this issue in the fall. Poznan Municipal Investments announced a solution to the problem, but - so far - there are no dots or signs on the glass to warn birds of a collision. Instead, sizable beacon signs have appeared on one of the bridges in recent days. They were added rather haphazardly, at the last minute, as if during the design it was forgotten that they would have to be integrated into the silhouette of the bridge. The signs are needed, but - they should be reduced in size (if regulations do not allow it, it is worth applying for a variance).
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - bridge over the ulga channel, abutment from the side of the Polytechnic, glass balustrades visible, cathedral in the background
photo: Jakub Głaz
Finally, the extensive structural clearances in the abutments of the bridges may be a problem in the future. They are easy to get into. Drunken (and not only) partygoers will almost certainly want to take advantage of such an opportunity. For now, no security measures have been put in place. Decision makers are pinning their hopes on monitoring. This is all the more risky, since - despite electronic surveillance - there are annual dumpster fires and more or less minor damage in the very popular Warta River areas.
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, designed by Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski, Błażej Szurkowski, Maciej Sokolnicki, Adam Turczyn - bridge over the ulga canal, view from under the Politecnica campus (Rychlewskiego Street) towards Ostrów Tumski and the cathedral, one of the four "risky" clearances in the cosntruction is visible
photo: Jakub Głaz
However, this is the price one pays for the significant revival of the riverfront areas. Just a decade ago they were almost dead, and Poznań - like many other Polish cities - had its back turned to the river . The situation has changed with the construction of Wartostrada, a new park in the old Warta riverbed, outdoor gyms and private gastronomic and cultural initiatives. The Berdychov bridges are another very important piece of this puzzle. Important, but not the last, because there is still a lot to do. The first - nomen omen - fire should be the construction of the long-announced real marina in the old river port.
For the time being, however, officials and councilors are thinking about what the official name of the new bridges, or footbridges, should be. Both bad and decent-sounding ideas are in play. The Queen Richeza Lorraine Bridge and the Princess Dobrava Bridge sound terrible . Acceptable, on the other hand, are Chwaliszewska Bridge and Berdych Bridge.
