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Portage Viaduct

Portageville Railroad Bridge, Letchworth State Park Bridge

Portage Viaduct

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: May 26, 2007, and 2013-2015

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Railroad (Norfolk Southern) Over Genesee River
Location
Rural: Livingston County, New York and Wyoming County, New York: United States
Structure Type
Metal 7 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Deck Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Deck Girder, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1875 By Builder/Contractor: McClintic-Marshall Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1903 Superstructure)
Rehabilitation Date
1903
Main Span Length
118.0 Feet (36 Meters)
Structure Length
820.0 Feet (249.9 Meters)
Roadway Width
Not Available
Spans
3 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
Not Applicable

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
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Bridge Documentation

This bridge no longer exists!

Bridge Status: This historic bridge was demolished and replaced in 2018 by Norfolk Southern!

Until Norfolk Southern demolished it, this huge bridge with bents dating to 1875 and 1903 truss spans soared over a valley and a nearby waterfall combining to form a dramatic centerpiece to a park.

This bridge sat on cast iron supports that showed an 1875 date on them. The truss spans were replaced in 1903. As such, it might be more appropriate to consider this a 1903 bridge. However, the 1875 bents were some of the finest surviving examples of pre-1880 metal railroad bridge bents in the country. Often a substructure is not a major part of a bridge's historic significance, but that was an exception with this bridge. In 1875 these bents were a major engineering achievement, and they supported what was then one of the highest bridges in the world.

Taxpayer dollars were taken from the American public and given to Norfolk Southern Corporation (not a government agency) to help them in their quest to demolish and replace this beautiful historic bridge. The loss of this bridge had a devastating effect on the Letchworth State Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Given the state of America's public highways and bridges, (and the lack of maintenance and preservation thereof) the use of taxpayer dollars to support private companies is questionable at best. To make matters worse, the state park which surrounds this bridge wanted absolutely nothing to do with an option to preserve this historic bridge next to the replacement railroad bridge and create a signature attraction at the park. Federal taxpayer dollars may have been used to help Norfolk Southern, but using taxpayer dollars to enhance a beautiful public state park apparently was off limits. Alternative funding such as a fee for use of such a pedestrian bridge were also soundly dismissed for unclear reasons. Preserving the bridge for pedestrian use would have saved this unique historic bridge but also would have increased park and railroad safety by giving people a safe place to view the gorge. The historic bridge had a long history of trespassers who would walk on the active railroad tracks to see the spectacular views that can only be had from the bridge. With the historic bridge demolished, now the new railroad bridge will continue to be a target of people trying to get that view.

View the National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form For Letchworth State Park

View Historical Article About This Bridge

Above: A rare view of a restored historic steam train crossing the bridge. Photo Credit: Marc Scotti.

View of the bridge from waterfall. Photo Credit: Marc Scotti.

Above: The sun sets at the bridge in one of final days before its demolition, with the completed modern replacement bridge visible. Photo Credit: Marc Scotti.

Above: Historical photo showing bridge with the previous 1875 trusses on it.

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Portage Viaduct

 

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Bridge Photo-Documentation

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2007 Bridge Photo-Documentation

A collection of overview and detail photos. This photo gallery contains a combination of Original Size photos and Mobile Optimized photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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Maps and Links: Portage Viaduct

This historic bridge has been demolished. This map is shown for reference purposes only.

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Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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