Here lies the Fort Street Bridge a testament to Detroit’s industrial past. The Fort Street Bridge stands as one of the most important movable historic bridges in Michigan. It is historically and technologically significant.
Designed by the Chicago Bascule Bridge Company, it mirrors the aesthetic attention given to Chicago’s bridges of the 1920s. Hugh E Young ran the company. He found Chicago’s designs for the city so successful that Young ran a business on the side to design them for other cities. All three historic bascule highway bridges in Detroit were designed by City of Chicago engineers.
The Fort Street Bridge defies its dreary, industrial surroundings with elaborate stone architecture. This is found on the abutments and bridgetender houses. The bridge presents a beautiful appearance. The structural details include an internally located operating rack and an under-deck counterweight.
The Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company was the superstructure contractor. Greiling Brothers Construction Company was the substructure contractor. Kuehne Electrical Company was the electrical contractor. George P Cullen Incorporated was the contractor for the bridgetender buildings. The Acme Cut Stone Company was a subcontractor for the stone work.
The Fort Street Bridge is historically significant for another reason too. In 1932, the Ford Hunger March took place here. Marchers stood on this very bridge. Five people were killed during the event.
This deck truss bascule bridge shares similarities with the Dix Avenue Bridge. Alongside the Dix Avenue Bridge, the Fort Street Bridge is the last of its type in Detroit and Michigan. The Jefferson Avenue Bridge is nearby. It is the only other highway truss bascule bridge in Michigan. It is a pony truss rather than a deck truss.
The trusses of the Fort Street Bridge retain good integrity. The bridgetender structure is also in good condition. Original cable car towers remain in excellent condition on the bridge. The railings and deck are not original. Despite these modifications, the Fort Street Bridge remains an important transportation resource.
This bridge is the oldest of a set of a dozen bascule bridges. They were erected on the Rouge River in the 1920s. They allowed shipping to use the river. This gave access to the Ford Motor Company River Rouge manufacturing complex. The Chicago Bascule Bridge Company was the builder.
The Fort Street Bridge has been an important connection over the Rouge River since the 1920s. The existing bridge was built in 1922. This resulted from the dredging and enlargement of the Rouge River for the Ford River Rouge Plant. The existing bascule bridge was nearing the end of its useful life and required replacement.
The new Fort Street Bridge is a vital part of an overall Fort-Rouge Gateway Project. This focuses on historic heritage. It also focuses on pedestrian and bicycle-friendly improvements. The Governor’s Michigan Showcase Trail will utilize the bridge.
The new Fort Street Bridge is the heaviest bascule leaf in the world at 8.2 million pounds. It is the second largest by deck area at over 15,000 square feet. The design utilizes a single-leaf bascule with an overhead counterweight. This is a first on the MDOT system. The two 150-HP motors will move the bascule span during high wind and heavy ice conditions.
Remember the Fort Street Bridge. It stands as a symbol of innovation, industry, and the struggles of the past.