Michigan’s Zilwaukee Drawbridge Struck by Freighter in 1967

Before the towering structure, known as the Zilwaukee Bridge, dominated the skyline along 23 and I-75 in Zilwaukee, Michigan, it once had a much lower profile. The span used to be a simple four-lane drawbridge that fell at the perfect spot to cause traffic backups for miles and shipping backups on the Saginaw River. There had to be a faster way, and a shipping accident in 1968 helped to accelerate planning for a better alternative.

Related: PHOTOS: The Making of Michigan's Mackinac Bridge, 1955 to 1957

Michigan residents leaving busy cities for a peaceful weekend up north were met with delays that could last hours before crossing the river. However, those hoping to cross on October 5, 1967, were in for a delay no one could have predicted.

Before the Zilwaukee Bridge, There Was the Zilwaukee Drawbridge

Before the Zilwaukee Bridge was the Zilwaukee drawbridge, which was known for causing massive delays, sometimes as long as 50-plus miles, for travelers heading north on the then I-75, US-23, and M-10 corridor. Since the drawbridge only offered 150 feet of clearance for passing boats, collisions often caused traffic to back up or force the bridge to be closed for days while repairs were made.

On October 5, 1967, one freighter, the J.F. Schoellkopf Jr., had just unloaded its cargo in Saginaw, Michigan, and began making its way downriver before losing power. This put the ship on a direct collision course with the Zilwaukee drawbridge. While the Schoellkopf was relatively unharmed, the bridge had to be shut down for days.

This crash is credited with implementing plans for an updated bridge infrastructure. Without this collision, Michigan residents could still wait hours for shipping and surface traffic to work together. Instead, the current Zilwaukee Bridge was constructed not without costly accidents or delays; it didn't open until 1987. However, its height of 125 feet off the Saginaw River has kept it collision-free since then.

So, 20 years and $94 million later, the Zilwaukee Bridge, as it is today, reminds us that accidents, however tragic, may slowly bring about much-needed improvements.