Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Lift Bridge

The Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Lift Bridge is a railway crossing with a single vertical-lift mechanism that raises and lowers to accommodate trains and ship traffic. The structure uses cables and counterweights to move the track span up when vessels need to pass through the canal.

Built in 1966 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the bridge was part of a major canal expansion project. It replaced earlier crossing methods and improved transportation connections for the region.

The bridge operates as a link in the regional transportation system, connecting the northern industrial areas with the agricultural southern Delaware.

Train operators must notify bridge operators in advance so the structure can be raised or lowered for passage. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when you can clearly see and photograph the lifting mechanisms in action.

It remains the only vertical-lift bridge still in operation across the entire canal, maintained by Norfolk Southern Railway. This crossing represents a rare example of mid-20th-century lifting technology that continues to serve freight operations today.

Location: Delaware

Inception: 1966

Official opening: 1966

GPS coordinates: 39.54320,-75.70290

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:27