Långholmsbron is a bridge

Bridge

A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...

 in central Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

, Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

. Connecting the major island Södermalm

Södermalm

Södermalm, often shortened to "Söder", is a district in central Stockholm. It covers the large island formerly called "Åsön". With a population of 99,685, it is one of the most densely populated districts of Scandinavia...

 to the minor island Långholmen

Långholmen

Långholmen is an island in central Stockholm, between Södermalm and Kungsholmen.Långholmen is a green oasis in the city, and a popular spot for walks, picnics and swimming. The small beaches, located right outside the former prison, are usually crowded in summer. However, up until 1975, Långholmen...

, it forms an extension to the street Bergsundsgatan.

The bridge was formerly called Spinnhusbron ("The spinning house Bridge") in reference to the precursor to the Långholmen prison

Långholmen prison

Långholmen Prison, officially Långholmen Central Prison , was historically one of the biggest prison facilities in Sweden with more than 500 cells, located on the island of Långholmen in Stockholm. It was built 1874-1880 as the central prison of Sweden, and was in use until 1975...

, and, popularly, Suckarnas bro ("The Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is a bridge in Venice, northern Italy . The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace...

"), also in reference to the prison. Its present name stems from 1885.
The section of Västerbron

Västerbron

Västerbron is an arch bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden. With a total length exceeding 600 m, 340 m of which stretches over water, it is one of the major bridges in Stockholm, offering one of the most panoramic views of the central part of the city centering on Gamla stan, the old town...

, the bridge overpassing Långholmsbron, used to be called Långholmsbron.

Most likely, an old wooden bridge was found here by the mid 17th century, as this was the location for a custom house

Custom House

A custom house or customs house was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out of a country. Customs officials also collected customs duty on imported goods....

 dealing with the ships delivering goods to the city from Lake Mälaren

Mälaren

Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...

. Nevertheless, it is present on a map dated 1733 and was replaced by a new wooden, four-span truss bridge

Truss bridge

A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...

 in 1845, 33 metres long, and 6 metres wide. In 1931, the present three-span steel girder bridge was inaugurated; 56 metres in length and 8 metres wide with a roadway of 5,6 metres.

See also

• List of bridges in Stockholm
• Reimersholmsbron
  Reimersholmsbron
  Reimersholmsbron or Reimersbron is a bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden, connecting the major island Södermalm to the minor island Reimersholme....
  
  
• Pålsundsbron
  Pålsundsbron
  Pålsundsbron is a bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching over the small water course Pålsundet, the bridge connects the major island Södermalm to the minor island Långholmen....
  
  
• Västerbron
  Västerbron
  Västerbron is an arch bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden. With a total length exceeding 600 m, 340 m of which stretches over water, it is one of the major bridges in Stockholm, offering one of the most panoramic views of the central part of the city centering on Gamla stan, the old town...
  
  

External links

• Stockholmskällan - historical images of Pålsundsbron.