ruise visitors to Little Current pass under or through the Little Current swing bridge. The bridge was built in 1913 and is the only land link between Manitoulin and the rest of Northern Ontario. It was built by an Ontario company at a cost of $285,000 and was originally designed for rail use only. The bridge was designed so that in the event of an emergency mechanical breakdown, it could by opened or closed within twenty minutes by hand with eight men manually turning a capstan.

Originally the bridge was lit at night with coal oil lamps. It stayed open all the time, only closing when a train approached the Little Current Station, thus allowing the busy North Channel shipping lanes to remain open.

After the Second World War, the bridge was modified for both rail and road use and during the 1980's, rail traffic ceased entirely. The length of the swing bridge is 325 feet and everything is controlled from the tower by an operator. The opening to allow ships to pass through is just over 100 feet wide, over 20 feet wider than the widest section of either the Welland canal or the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Today the bridge swings for 15 minutes at the top of the hour, to allow recreational boats to pass. On the busy swing, up to 30 boats will wait to pass through making for a colourful parade. As many as 200 sail and power boats pass through the bridge each day in peak season. Islanders avoid crossing on the hour and getting delayed for 15 minutes. Visitors however enjoy the spectacle and photo opportunity. The current can run at between three and four knots under the bridge and the water height can vary by two feet on either side as winds pile water on either side of this narrowest section of the North Channel.