The bridge's lift span weighs 2,200 tons and is counterbalanced by heavy concrete weights.
It is officially designated as a vertical-lift bridge rather than a drawbridge.
The structure was built as part of the canal expansion project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
When fully lowered, the tracks sit approximately 7 feet above the water level at high tide.
The bridge is raised to its full height in roughly 2.5 minutes.
It replaced a bascule-style bridge that had been constructed at the same site in 1910.
The Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge spanning the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne, Massachusetts. Completed in 1935, it serves as the only rail link connecting mainland Massachusetts to Cape Cod. The structure features a 544-foot-long truss span that rises vertically to provide 135 feet of clearance for maritime traffic. It is one of the few remaining vertical-lift bridges of its size in the United States. The bridge remains in the 'open' (raised) position for the majority of the time to allow for constant canal navigation. It is lowered only upon the approach of freight or excursion trains. The bridge is operated by MassDOT and sits adjacent to the Cape Cod Canal service roads.
From the canal service road on the Bourne side, looking directly up the canal toward the lift span.
Bring binoculars to get a clearer view of the mechanism if you are positioned on the canal service roads.
Check the Cape Cod Central Railroad's seasonal schedule, as this dictates when the bridge is most likely to be lowered.
The canal service roads offer flat, paved paths perfect for walking or cycling to get closer to the structure.
Do not attempt to walk onto the tracks or the bridge structure, as it is active property and strictly off-limits to pedestrians.
The bridge operates based on rail traffic demands; there is no fixed daily schedule for the lift mechanism.
