Cincinnati Southern Bridge

The Cincinnati Southern Bridge is a railway bridge crossing the Ohio River for approximately 988 meters between Cincinnati, Ohio and Ludlow, Kentucky. As a vertical-lift bridge, it has movable sections that allow river traffic to pass underneath while carrying freight trains across the waterway.

The bridge opened in 1877 as an interstate connection and represented a significant engineering advance for railroad transport at that time. Its movable lift mechanism was innovative for the era and introduced a new method for crossing rivers with trains.

The bridge represents a rare example of municipal ownership of interstate railroad infrastructure in the country. Visitors can observe how local governance shaped major transportation connections across state lines.

The bridge is used primarily by freight trains and is not accessible to pedestrians or regular vehicles. The best views of the structure are from riverbank paths or viewpoints along the Ohio River.

The original swing pier from 1877 still stands visible in the river, even though it no longer supports the active bridge structure. This remnant serves as a reminder of the initial construction method and how the infrastructure was upgraded over time.

Location: Ohio

Official opening: December 1877

Length: 988 m

GPS coordinates: 39.09800,-84.54200

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43