Mile 43.7 - Thebes Railroad Bridge

John Ruskey

20 Apr 2026

43.7 Thebes Railroad Bridge

The graceful arches of the Thebes Railroad bridge are reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct viewed from the distance, but the river crossing is a typical steel truss construction. This bridge stretches nearly 4,000 feet from bluff to bluff and has been in continuous use since 1905. Unlike the bridges further downstream, which could not anchor into bedrock (because there is none!) the Thebes Bridge was constructed using the dolomite formation of the Pawnee Hills for its base. Paddlers should watch for turbulent water around bridge piers, especially in higher water levels. Unfortunately there has been a rush in building dream mega-homes on the once pristine pastoral hills north of the Thebes bridge.

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