Swing Railway Bridge

Originally located a short distance to the west of Trafford Road Swing Bridge, the railway swing bridge linked the extensive network of dock railways on the north and south banks of the Ship Canal, extending into Trafford Park. It was built as a single-track railway bridge but was replaced during the Second World War as the volume of strategic supplies being handled by the dock railway increased substantially. This new steel bridge was built in 1941 by Dorman Long & Co. of Middlesbrough. The bridge is 80 metres long, 9 metres wide, rising 10 metres above its deck, and weighs 560 tonnes.  Classified as a Warren Truss bridge with verticals, the main truss members comprise of riveted lattice girders.

With the closure of the Docks the bridge was taken out of service in 1981. In 1988 it was moved to the old No 9 Dock where it has become a pedestrian footbridge separating the Huron and Erie basins and known as Detroit Bridge.