Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge, Railroad bridge in Petersburg, Virginia.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge is a railway and road bridge that crosses the Appomattox River, linking Colonial Heights and Petersburg in Virginia. The structure carries traffic for both U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 301 over the waterway.
The original railway bridge at this location was built between 1924 and 1925 and designed by J.E. Greiner Company for streetcar service. The bridge underwent major reconstruction in the 1990s that transformed it into its present form.
The bridge carries the name of Martin Luther King Jr. and serves as a symbol connecting two neighboring communities separated by water. Today it represents the ongoing importance of unity across geographical and historical boundaries.
Visitors can cross the bridge on foot or by vehicle without paying any tolls. The best time to cross is during normal daylight hours when visibility is clear and conditions are stable.
The bridge is documented in the Historic American Engineering Record, reflecting its importance as a technical example. This recognition shows how the 1990s restoration preserved the historic value of the structure.
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