Wayne Co. reopens Jefferson bridge to River Rouge

River Rouge — A heavily damaged drawbridge connecting Detroit and River Rouge reopened Friday after it closed in 2013 when it was lowered onto a freighter.

County and city officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the Jefferson Bascule Bridge over Jefferson Avenue.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans joined River Rouge and Ecorse officials, business owners and residents to mark the occasion.

“For the last three years, the closure of the Jefferson Bascule Bridge has created headaches for residents and negatively impacted the downriver business community,” Evans said in a statement. “Reopening the Jefferson Bridge has remained one of my administration’s top priorities since taking office.

“The tireless effort and hard work of our administration has paid off and I can proudly say: ‘We fixed the damn bridge.’”

The bridge was idled in May 2013 when an operator lowered it onto a 670-foot freighter that had been cleared to pass. Police later determined the operator was drunk.

Owners of businesses on Jefferson near the drawbridge complained the crossing’s closure hurt their sales. A grassroots campaign launched a Facebook page and put up orange signs in front of some businesses on Jefferson calling on the county to “Fix the Damn Bridge.”

Located south and east of Interstate 75, the Jefferson Avenue drawbridge over the Rouge River used to be a heavily traveled crossing between Detroit and River Rouge. Wayne County owns and maintains it.

Built in 1922, the bridge is a double-leaf, fixed trunnion bascule bridge, or drawbridge. Bridges like it are sometimes called Chicago-style bascules because they’re widely used in the Windy City.

Wayne County commissioners in July 2015 awarded a two-year, $16.7 million contract to bridge construction company Anlaan Corp. to repair the Jefferson Avenue span. Under the contract, Anlaan had one year to complete the project, but had an extra 12 months in case of inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances.

“We want to thank the county executive for taking this project seriously,” said River Rouge Mayor Michael Bowdler in a statement. “The bridge means so much to the community and having it open again is a welcome sight.”

cramirez@detroitnews.com