B & O Railroad Viaduct

The B&O Railroad Viaduct connects Bellaire, Ohio to Benwood, West Virginia by spanning the Ohio River with a stone and steel structure. The crossing features 43 arched spans that carry railroad traffic across the water.

Construction began in 1868 following legal conflicts with ferry operators, and the bridge opened in 1871. Major reinforcements were added between 1892 and 1905 to support heavier trains.

Each of the 43 arched spans contains exactly 37 stones, representing the number of states in the United States during the bridge construction period.

This is an active railroad bridge carrying trains, so access to the structure itself is restricted for safety reasons. Visitors can view the bridge from nearby riverbanks or overlooks along either shore.

Different sections of the bridge were manufactured at separate locations, with some arches coming from Baltimore's Mt. Clair Shop and others from Keystone Bridge Company. This mix of sources reflects how complex railroad engineering projects required coordination across multiple factories.

Location: Bellaire

GPS coordinates: 40.01190,-80.73890

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:49