High Bridge
High Bridge is located southwest of Wilmore, Kentucky and carries two tracks for Norfolk Southern across the Kentucky River, and was once the highest bridge in North America and the highest railroad bridge in the world.The origins of High Bridge date to 1851,(2) when the Lexington & Danville Railroad desired a connection between the two aforementioned cities.(1) The original crossing was designed by John A. Roebling as a suspension bridge, however, construction was never completed due to financial difficulties and the Civil War. The only components constructed were four towers that were constructed for the suspension cables.
In 1877, the Cincinnati Southern Railway completed a bridge in the same location of the previous failed suspension bridge, however, it was in a cantilever design.(1) The new bridge was 275 ft. tall and 1,125 ft. long, and was dedicated by president Rutherford B. Hayes in 1879. In 1911, a new crossing 30 feet above the existing span was completed while keeping railroad traffic uninterrupted during the rebuilding process.(2) Eighteen years later, the bridge was widened to two tracks, which eliminated the original suspension towers from 1851.(2)
High Bridge was once the highest bridge in North America and the highest railroad bridge in the world.(1)(2)(3) The span was declared an engineering landmark in 1986 by the American Society of Civil Engineers.(2)(3)
Further reading
1. High Bridge by Tim Powell
Sources
1. "High Bridge, Kentucky." Kentucky Atlas & Gazetter. 27 Feb. 2009 Article.
2. Powell, Tim. "High Bridge History." WorldTimZone 2008. 27 Feb. 2009 Article.
3. "High Bridge." Jessamine County Kentucky Tourism." 27 Feb. 2009 Article.
seicer | February 27, 2009, 22:10
This has been corrected. |
The author has mixed up the Tyrone Bridge (Young's High Bridge) at Tyrone, Ky with High Bridge at Wilmore, Ky.