Welded Bridge in Maurzyce (Słudwia Bridge)

The modest steel truss over the little Słudwia River near Łowicz is the world's first welded road bridge. It was designed by Professor Stefan Bryła and opened on 12 August 1929. Because it was welded rather than riveted, the structure weighed 56 tonnes instead of 70 and was cheaper to build.

History: a revolution in 27 metres

The bridge was built by the firm K. Rudzki i S-ka of Mińsk Mazowiecki. Originally only the stringers and cross-beams were to be welded, with the rest riveted. Under Bryła's direction, engineer Wenczesław Poniż redesigned it as a fully welded structure. The bridge, with a span of 27 m, opened in summer 1929. It quickly convinced engineers to adopt welding in construction, although for a long time it remained the only welded road bridge in Poland. Back in 1928 Bryła had drawn up welding regulations for the Ministry of Public Works that later served as a model in other countries.

The bridge carried a former international road (today national road 92). When it could no longer cope with the traffic, it was moved about 20 m north in 1977, and a new, larger bridge was built in its place. After a thorough renovation in 2009, the monument is open to visitors.

The engineer

Stefan Bryła (1886–1943) was a professor at the technical universities in Lviv and Warsaw, a member of the Polish parliament between the wars and a pioneer of welding. His designs include the Prudential skyscraper in Warsaw, which survived about 120 shell hits during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. During the German occupation he was active in the underground; arrested for organising secret teaching, he was shot by the Germans in a street execution in Warsaw on 3 December 1943.

Good to know

• The bridge appeared on a stamp in the "Bridges in Poland" series issued in 2008.
• In 1995 it received the American Historic Welded Structure Award, and in 2010 the Polish "Well-Kept Monument" distinction.
• In 2025 the Polish Bridge Builders' Association proposed adding it to the list of Monuments of History, Poland's highest heritage status.

Tripto tip

The bridge stands right by national road 92 between Łowicz and Kutno, on the boundary of the villages of Maurzyce and Niedźwiada. It is free and open to pedestrians, and a visit takes 15–20 minutes. Right next to it is the Łowicz Village Open-Air Museum in Maurzyce, so plan to see both together.