Lewes Railroad Swing Bridge

The Lewes railroad swing bridge, originally designated Bridge No. 38.71 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, carried the Delaware Coast Line Railroad and predecessor railroads over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. Built in 1916 by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the canal construction, it replaced a wooden trestle bridge that crossed Lewes Creek, which became the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. The bridge weighs 162,000 pounds, or 81 tons, and uses a Bobtail/Asymmetrical design with its supporting pedestal located off center. Its 91'-3" length and balance on a 12" diameter bearing disc allowed the bridge to rotate despite its weight, and it could be manually turned by "walking" a steel bar in circles. Over more than 100 years of service, the only change required was the addition of navigation lights.

Lewes, Delaware · United States