Welded bridge in Maurzyce

The Welded Bridge in Maurzyce, located on the Słudwia River between Maurzyce and Niedźwiada, is the world's first welded road bridge. Built in 1929 by the company K. Rudzki i S-ka based on a design by Professor Stefan Bryła, the bridge was originally designed as a riveted structure but was later converted to a welded one under the direction of Engineer Wenczesław Poniż. This change, involving the use of electric welding, reduced the bridge's weight from 70 to 56 tons, which lowered construction costs and simplified the process. The bridge quickly became an example of modern construction techniques, yet for a long time it remained the only welded road bridge structure in Poland. Throughout its history, the bridge served as part of the former European route E8, and in 1977 it was relocated because its original structure no longer met the needs of increasing traffic. After a major renovation in 2009, it became a site open to visitors. Due to its unique engineering value, the bridge was granted heritage status in 1968. In 2008, it was honored on postage stamps in the series "Bridges in Poland," alongside structures such as the Poniatowski Bridge in Warsaw. The Welded Bridge in Maurzyce is not only a technological achievement but also a symbol of modernity in engineering construction, combining historical and cultural values.