Martins Creek Viaduct

Martins Creek Viaduct. . , From 1912-15 the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad shortened its Clarks Summit to Hallstead route by 3.6 miles. This project constructed the Martins Creek Viaduct and the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct (Nicholson Bridge). The Martins Creek Viaduct was completed first, becoming the world's largest reinforced concrete bridge. Today after Nicholson, it remains the 2nd largest bridge of its kind., The new route, deemed a "cutoff", was 39.6 miles in length with separate north and south lines. The new less steep and less curved design alleviated the need for pusher locomotives, improved safety at road crossings, reduced wear on existing engines and their wheels, resulting in cost and safety improvements. Despite this, it was the majesty of the bridges themselves that captured attention., Abraham Burton Cohen, designer of bridges in Scranton, PA and Binghamton, NY, oversaw the construction of the D.L.&W. Railroad bridges using the same technological advances used during the digging of the Panama Canal just two years prior. The Martins Creek Viaduct stands about one quarter mile in length and its 12 piers or pillars are anchored 60 feet into the creek's bedrock below., The Martins Creek Viaduct deeply impacted Kingsley and surrounding communities by bringing Italian, German and Eastern European immigrants to settle. During world war one it was protected by the US Army and in world war two it was guarded by local young people commissioned as Air Wardens. In 1914, because the bridge was completed early, the D.L.&W. held a lavish dance for 200 of its employees atop the bridge. Those in attendance danced to the Oppenheim Orchestra brought in by train from New York City.