It connects Vasilievsky Island and the central part of the city (Admiralteysky raion).

After the death of Tsar Nicholas I, it was named Nikolaevsky Bridge in his honor, and in 1918 it was renamed for Lieutenant Schmidt.

The design was a cast iron bridge with twin parallel swing sections at its northern end.

According to the legend, the Russian Tsar, Nicholas I promised to Kierbedź to give him a promotion for every completed span.

Since it would be completely closed to traffic for over a year, a temporary bridge was constructed between September 2005 and May 2006.