Drawbridge: DT&I Short Cut Canal Drawbridge, River Rouge, MI (DT&I-DC)

Henry Ford reportedly paid for the construction of this bridge which allowed for the creation of a short cut river canal for the Rouge River, allowing large freighters to access the Rouge complex upstream. The bridge used by the DT&I to access their station in Delray crossed here.

The original bridge at this location was a 61 foot steel through girder bridge, 3 1/2 meet above water level. The river was eight feet deep at this location. This bridge was swung by hand. [MCR-1904]

This second bridge is a bascule bridge which was built in 1922. Modifications were made to it in 1950. It is owned by the National Steel Corporation and operated by the Delray Connecting Railroad.

Photo info: Top and 2nd photos, 2003 views of the Delray Connecting's Short Cut Canal draw bridge, tower and interlocking signal. This photo is taken in a northeast direction and the Zug Island industries are in the background. this track was originally the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton's main line north into the Delray area of Detroit. The line crossed Zug Island, then turned north and crossed the narrow Rouge River, before ending in a yard east of what is now Delray tower.  [Dale Berry]. 3rd photo, the Bridge and interlocking tower in 1972. [Charles Geletzke Jr.]

Notes

Time Line

1918. The DT&I had operators on duty around the clock at this location. [TRT]

1924. A barn, on Reckner road about 1.5 miles from Henry Ford's home, burned in a case of arson. Workmen building the DT&I railroad bridge at the Rouge river had made their home there a short time before, but the barn was empty when it burned. [DFP-1924-0523]

2020. The Short Cut Canal drawbridge is the last manned railroad tower in Michigan. It is not regularly staffed but is operated as-needed on a part-time basis. Ken Borg notes: When US Steel closed its Great Lakes Works (including blast furnaces) on Zug Island, the hot metal trains which had operated between Zug Island and the rolling mill in Ecorse were discontinued. The bridge was then locked in the open position for river traffic. Switchers at CN Belanger (just south of the bridge) were lined for Conrail tracks.

At that time, NS delivered coil steel to Conrail via the Marsh track who took it to Ecorse for further processing. In October, 2020, a change was made with the NS now delivering steel coil from Gary, IN to the Delray Connecting railroad's yard on Zug Island (via the former Union Belt). The DCRR then delivered the steel from there south to the USS "80 inch" mill at River Rouge. When this movement occurs, an operator is called to operate the Short Cut Canal bridge. The movement requires setting of the CN Belanger interlocking, and then uses a manual block from the Short Cut Canal bridge to Great Lakes Avenue. The DCRR leases this ex-DT&I track from CN. The move generally occurs Monday through Thursday on the day shift. [GTWHS-2020-Sum]