Brandywine Valley Viaduct
The Brandywine Valley Viaduct is an abandoned pratt truss trestle bridge that spans the East Branch Brandywine Creek and U.S. Route 322 near Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The viaduct was originally built in 1904, serving the Pennsylvania Railroad.
History
The Brandywine Valley Viaduct was constructed by the Pennsylvania Steel Company to serve the Pennsylvania Railroad. The viaduct mainly carried freight traffic, but also carried passengers on the local Philadelphia and Thorndale Branch of the PRR. The viaduct also served as a detour route for passenger trains when there were issues on the PRR's Main Line. It was double-tracked at the time of its completion until 1971, and was electrified in 1938. Rehabilitation work took place on the bridge from 1948 to 1951. Following the disbandment of the PRR, Conrail continued to use the bridge until the mid-1980s. The track was removed in 1989.Since the removal of the track, the viaduct has remained abandoned. Due to U.S. Route 322 running under the viaduct's main span, protective netting has been installed under the deck to prevent possible debris from falling onto the roadway. From 2014 to 2023, six suicides occurred on the bridge, prompting calls from local community members to prevent access to the bridge. In 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation installed higher fencing at possible access points.
In 2025, the Chester County government purchased the viaduct from PennDOT for $1. The county has expressed plans to convert the bridge into a rail trail that would connect with the existing Chester Valley Trail, along with further upgrading safety measures. Construction is expected to begin in 2027.