Bolshoy Ustinsky Bridge

Lower Yauza river had numerous bridges, dams and water mills since Middle Ages.

One was eventually demolished without replacement, three others correspond (west to east) to present-day Maly Ustinsky, Astakhovsky (Yauzsky) and Tessinsky bridges.

Most important of these, Yauzsky Bridge, connecting city center with eastbound roads, was rebuilt in stone in 1804.

[5] Before World War II, city planners intended to complete the Boulevard Ring with a link through Zamoskvorechye.

Maly Ustinsky and Yauzsky (Astakhovsky) Bridge were also torn down and rebuilt to the same high capacity standard.

Ring link was never completed; its planned outline can be vaguely traced by a chain of grand stalinist buildings near Tretyakovskaya metro station.

It was named after the nearby New Kriegskomissariat, a castle-like military depot (built 1778-1781); there is no relation to Red Commissars of 20th century.

Site of Ustinsky Bridges, 1853, from Khotev's Atlas . Large structure in upper left quarter is Foundling House (The Orphanage, 1763-1770)
View of 1881 Ustinsky Bridge, Orphanage, and Kremlin. Postcard from a photograph made before 1887, when the First electrical powerplant (MoGes One) was built
Bolshoy and Maly Ustinsky Bridges
View from Astakhovsky Bridge to Bolshoy Ustyinsky Bridge. July 2014
Looking north into Komissariatsky alley, exactly on the old site of Komissariatsky Bridge. Present-day bridge with the same name is 300 meters north-west (left)
Maly Ustinsky Bridge