Fourteenth Street Bridge, Railroad lift bridge in Louisville, United States
The Fourteenth Street Bridge is a 1614-meter long railroad crossing that spans the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana. The steel structure with its truss sections allows freight trains to move between the two states.
The structure was built in 1870 by the Pennsylvania Railroad and was the longest iron bridge in the country at that time. It served as the railroad's sole connection from northern territories directly into Kentucky.
The bridge marks the eastern edge of the Ohio River landscape as part of Louisville's industrial story. It shows how rail connections shaped the city's role as a transportation hub linking north and south.
The bridge is used by the Louisville and Indiana Railroad for regular freight operations. Access is limited to railroad personnel since it functions as an active freight line.
The bridge features a vertical-lift mechanism that allows boats to pass underneath the structure. This engineering innovation was quite advanced when the bridge first opened.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
