Built in 1922 by the Wayne County Road Commission, the Fort Street Bridge is one of three drawbridges on the Rouge River built to accommodate freighter traffic to and from the Ford Rouge complex.   The historically significant bridge was a critical crossing point for the 1933 Hunger March, a key event in the formation of the United Auto Workers union.

The operator's house at the east end of the bridge

After more than 80 years of service, the bridge has many deficiencies that need to be addressed, including inward pier migration, structural deterioration, inadequacies in the electrical and mechanical systems, a substandard fender system, and a horizontal clearance that does not meet current U.S. Coast Guard standards. Although extensive repairs have been made to the bridge over the years, replacement or a major rehabilitation is imminent.  In addition to correcting bridge problems, there also is a need to improve the current alignment of the Fort Street/Oakland Boulevard intersection to better define M-85 as the through route.