Cape Fear river bridge

The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge in Wilmington NC is a vertical-lift steel structure spanning the Cape Fear River. It carries traffic on routes US 17, US 76, and US 421. The center lift section is 408 feet long which sits 65 feet clear of the river level, but can be raised to 135 feet for ship traffic. To appreciate the size of this bridge, the lift span is longer than a football field and the towers are like 12 story buildings.

Construction began in 1967 with vehicle traffic commencing in 1969. Prior to this bridge installation, access across the Cape Fear River was provided by ferryboats. 

Large counterweights are suspended in each of the twin towers which allows the bridge to be raised by a system of cables, pulleys, and motors to move the counterweights.

In real life the bridge only carries vehicles, but on the Gibsonville Garden Railroad it serves as a railroad bridge.