Ligovsky Avenue

Ligovsky Prospekt (Russian: Лиговский проспект) is a street in the historic centre of Saint Petersburg. It begins at a T-crossing with Nekrasova Street, runs southwest, crosses Nevsky Prospect next to Moskovsky Railway Station, and ends at the Moscow Triumphal Gate as a T-crossing with Moskovsky Avenue. The name of the street originates from the Liga River, currently the Dudergofka. Between 1718-25, when Saint Petersburg was the capital of Russia, construction began on the Ligovsky Canal under the direction of Grigory Grigorevich to provide water to the fountains in the Summer Garden or to transport stone blocks to the city center. The canal was drained gradually between 1891 and 1926. In the 19th century, the area was populated by workers, but eventually it was gentrified. The road is near the site of the old Novgorod road. The road was called "Moskovskaya" since 1739, then "Ligovsky Canal Embankment". In 1892 the street became "Ligovskaya Street", and between 1952 and 1956 it was called "Stalingradsky Avenue". Since 1956 it has carried the current name. There is a tram line running along Ligovsky Avenue in the central segment of the street.