The bridge constitutes part of the Hermitage and Winter Palace ensemble.

The original bridge was a three-span wooden drawbridge constructed in 1718–20 by Harmen van Bol'es, immediately after the canal near the Winter Palace was completed.

The permanent stone bridge was built in 1763–66, in conjunction with building of granite embankments of the Neva River.

[1] Originally the arch of the bridge was built from brick and limestone with granite exterior.

In 1934 it was replaced with the new monolithic hinge-free ferroconcrete arch, but the granite facade was preserved by the project of engineer A. D. Sapestein and architect K. M. Dmitriev, the adviser – professor G. P.