| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Tunkhannock Viaduct "Nicholson Bridge" |
Railroad (St Lawrence and Hudson / Norfolk Southern) Over Tunkhannock Creek | Nicholson: Wyoming County, Pennsylvania | Concrete Deck Arch, Stationary | 1915 By: Flickwir and Bush |
| Technical Facts |
| Alteration Date | Structure Length | Main Span Length | Deck Width | Bridge Height | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 1940 | 2375 Feet (723.9 Meters) | 180 Feet (54.9 Meters) | 34 Feet (10.4 Meters) | 240 Feet (73 Meters) | 12 (2 buried in approach fill) | None |
Among the greatest bridges in the world is the famous Tunkhannock Viaduct, which has been called the 9th Wonder of the World. It truly is impressive to see a bridge that is so large and tall that it soars above the hills of Pennsylvania.
Concrete had not really been in use for bridge building all that long (mainly starting around 1900), when this bridge was built in 1915. This did not stop builders from constructing this bridge that would become the largest concrete bridge in the world. As late as 1990, this bridge appears to have retained this record as largest concrete bridge in the world. Further testimony to the significance of this bridge is the fact it has been registered as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, one of the most elite historic designations a bridge can receive.
The construction of this bridge caused the town, which had a population of 900 to add 2600 people to its population. The actual workforce for the bridge was about 500 people.
Be sure to view the photo gallery for pictures of a much more extensive historical narrative of this bridge (which is located at an interpretive area near the bridge itself) that also includes photos of its construction.
Concrete railings were added to the bridge in 1940. Interestingly, those have proved less durable than the 1915 bridge, and are deteriorating. The repair of these should be considered simply to improve the aesthetic quality of the bridge. Certainly, the need to maintain and preserve the bridge itself is of paramount importance, however for how old the bridge is, it seems to be in excellent condition currently.
If you visit this bridge, don't forget to travel north a short distance and visit its "little" brother, the Kingsley Bridge, which when you take the Tunkhannock Viaduct out of the picture, is a very large and impressive bridge as well, as is also well-worth a visit.
There is also supposed to be a very long tunnel on this railroad line nearby, although this website unfortunately did not have time to check it out.
