1922,1950 DCAX/(DTI+GTW) SUC Bridge over Short Cut Canal 21 (Rouge River) in Detroit, MI

(Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

DCAX = Delray Connecting Railroad

DTI = Detroit, Toledo & Ironton RR

GTW = Grand Trunk Western RR

The 2005 SPV Map indicates the reporting mark for DCAX is "DC" and that the railroad is a subsidiary of US Steel. Knorek uses DCRR for the Delray Connecting Railroad, but I don't think that is official. The 2005 SPV Map lists DCRR as DuBois County Railroad.

This is a very rare example of the Strauss underneath counterweight design.

Historic Bridges has not yet documented this bridge because it is in an industrial area and Nathan can't get photos of it. But he has documented it in a presentation, pages 12-17.

Cleveland State University Library Photograph Collection (The Detroit Toledo & Ironton Railroad Book) via BridgeHunter

Google Maps labels both sides of Zug Island as River Rouge. (The USGS map makes the same mistake.) This topo map confirms that the south side was dug out to shorten the distance and curves that an iron ore freighter would have to negotiate to get to Ford's plant. The canal is aptly named since it provides a shortcut for the freighters. And it explains the name of this bridge. The widening and straightening of the Rouge River in 1922 was a joint project between Ford and the federal government. Unlike Zug Island, the steel plant built by Ford is still receiving iron ore boats. If you look at the photos posted by Andrew Dean Detroit, several other industries such as cement plants also receive loads from freighters on this river.

The DT&I mainline used to cross over this bridge onto Zug Island and then curve northwestish to cross the original course of the Rouge River to get to get to Delray to connect with other railroads. [MichiganRailroads-yard via MichiganRailroads-search]

1940 Detroit Quad @ 1:24,000

In some of the photos, this bridge looks like a truss bridge that can magically go up. But these closer photos show the heavy duty members on the bridge-house end that can hold the counterweight. So I presume it is a trunnion bridge. I still have not figured out where the rack is. Knorek has a copyrighted photo that reinforces that this is a trunnion bridge. But the view does not provide insight as to the location of the pinion gear and rack.

Photo taken by The Great Out Doors via BridgeHunter, License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)

Photo taken by Jann Mayer in July 2019 via BridgeHunter, License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
[The various smokestacks in the background appear to be part of the Detroit Sewage Treatment Plant.]

Here is a view of the North end. When you do a Google search for "short cut canal," many of the entries are for the Panama Canal. But I did find this post.

1 of 3 photos on MichiganRailroads-bridge
"The Bridge and interlocking tower in 1972. [Charles Geletzke Jr.]

The tower for this bridge also controls local track switching. It is one of the few remaining interlocking towers in the country that is still staffed. [RailroadFan]

 

Mike Delaney posted
First vessel to unload at Ford Rouge dock after river widening and changes. Cletus Schneider arrives to unload. 1923

 

Steven Pergeau posted
Douglas Butler shared
Credit to Steven Pergeau This is a Short Cut Canal RR Bascule Bridge detail located in Detroit, MI crossing the Rouge River.

Some people actually fish in the canal. [FishBrain] I wonder how safe it is to eat the fish. In the Chicago area there are recommendations to restrict your input. I think the main culprit is mercury. Since I don't fish, I don't pay close attention. FishBrain is where I saw "21" in the name of the canal. 

Is that because its original design depth was 21'? [USACE]