18 Mile Creek Phantom Bridge, Westport, Kentucky

Built in 1885 by the Champion Bridge Company of Wilmington, Ohio, the 18 mile creek phantom bridge near Westport, Kentucky is about 40 feet long and spans Eighteen Mile Creek. This pratt pony truss bridge sits on an abandoned section of Five Oaks Road.

In this aerial view taken in 1955 it shows the bridge still in use. However sometime between 1963 and 1969 Five Oaks Road was bypassed when Route 524, also known as Westport Road was realigned and this bridge was vacated.

Since that time the wooden deck was either removed or fell into the creek below. Today the bridge is barely holding on and will likely drop into the creek as it doesn’t look like the county has any interest in preserving this relic from the 1800s.

A neat little bridge with a decorative final at the one end. Get in your car and take a roadtrip to see this piece of history before it’s lost forever!