The railroad drawbridge on the Regalica

The bascule bridge over the Regalica (the Eastern Oder) is a monument of unique significance on a European scale. It is the only railway bridge of its kind in Poland and the only one in Europe featuring a mechanical lifting system. Listed as a historical monument, the bridge was built in 1877 as part of railway line no. 273, connecting Wrocław and Szczecin—which is why it is colloquially known as the "Wrocław Bridge."

Originally spanning approximately 262 meters, the bridge consisted of five spans. The fifth span was initially a swing span; however, the bridge later underwent reconstruction, and between 1933 and 1935, this section was replaced by a counterweighted bascule span. This movable section—the fifth span—weighs about 163 tonnes and measures over 17 meters in length and 5 meters in width. The bridge was destroyed during the war—blown up in 1945—and subsequently reconstructed in 1949, largely using structural components recovered from the riverbed. One of the most significant repairs since that time took place in 2010, following a collision with a barge.

A new railway bridge over the Regalica in Szczecin Podjuchy was officially opened to rail traffic on December 10, 2023. The new structure is named after Dr. Eng. Andrzej Kreft.

Today, the bridge’s old bascule span—often referred to as the "heart of the bridge"—along with its lifting mechanism, has been preserved as a technical monument. The bridge is raised only on special occasions. This usually takes only a few minutes. The motor that drives the entire mechanism has an output of just 27 kW, but the process of lifting the span is further assisted by a 100-ton metal block that acts as a counterweight. It is located on the northern side of the structure.

Interestingly, this bridge was featured in scenes from the 2003 short film "The Bridge," which was nominated for an Oscar.