Burlington Rail Bridge

The Burlington Rail Bridge is a railway bridge spanning the Mississippi River with two tracks for freight traffic. The structure features a central lift section that allows vessels to pass through while the overall span crosses the waterway.

The current bridge was completed in 2012, replacing earlier structures at this crossing. A previous bridge from the 1890s, designed by George S. Morison, had served the location for many decades.

The bridge is part of the BNSF Railway network that connects Illinois and Iowa, carrying freight trains daily through the region. It allows rail and river traffic to coexist, using the river as a shared transportation corridor for the communities on both sides.

The bridge is used daily by freight trains and remains accessible to vessels traveling up and down the river. Visitors should know this is an active railway route with no public access to the structure itself.

The bridge features a lifting mechanism that raises regularly to allow river traffic to pass through. This moving system ensures both rail and river commerce can operate without interfering with each other.

Location: Henderson County

Location: Des Moines County

Official opening: 2012

GPS coordinates: 40.79860,-91.09190

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:08