The Brighton Road Swing Bridge spans the western end of the Murray Canal, the protected shortcut connecting Presqu'ile Bay to the Bay of Quinte. This is the first bridge boaters encounter when entering the Trent-Severn Waterway from Lake Ontario via the Murray Canal. The bridge opens on signal during Parks Canada operating hours. When closed, it shows a fixed red light; when open, a fixed green light. The canal itself is 124 ft wide at the surface but narrows to 80 ft at the bottom, with depths of 9 ft.
| GPS Coordinates | 44.0460°N, 77.574°W |
| Water Body | Murray Canal |
| Region | Quinte & Lower Trent |
| KM Marker | Murray Canal West |
| Bridge Type | Swing Bridge |
| Adjacent Lock | Lock 1 — Trenton (Pre-Lock 1 (Murray Canal)) |
| Closed Clearance | 3.0 m 10 ft CHS |
| Status | Operable |
| Operating Hours | Opens on signal during Parks Canada operating hours (mid-May to mid-October) |
| Signal Requirements | Signal for opening; fixed red light when closed, fixed green light when open |
Piers for the bridges are north of the axis of the canal; vessels must pass south of the piers. Piers from three former demolished bridges remain at 3.8, 1.6, and 1.3 km from the east end of the canal.
If approaching from Presqu'ile Bay, note the canal approach channel has depths of only 7 ft. The bridge piers are on the north side of the canal — always pass south. Plan your timing carefully: passage through a swing bridge typically takes about 10 minutes. Arriving after operating hours means waiting until the next day.
Submerged power and telephone cables cross the Murray Canal near each swing bridge. Former bridge pier remnants in canal.
The Murray Canal provides a sheltered alternative to rounding Prince Edward County for boaters entering the TSW from Lake Ontario. Brighton Marina near the western bridge offers CBSA telephone reporting for cross-border arrivals.
We use cookies to improve your experience and analyze site traffic. Analytics cookies are only set after you consent. You can change your preferences anytime.
Get notified when new content launches — plus early access to lock-by-lock intelligence, seasonal updates, and cruising advisories.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. Your data stays on our server — we don’t use third-party email platforms.
Get seasonal updates, new lock intelligence, cruising advisories, and guide additions — delivered to your inbox.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.