Because of repeated floods destroying numerous wooden bridges, the city of Denver sought to replace them with metal structures.

By 1887, because of their ready availability and low expense, the city began building metal bridges to replace the wooden spans.

[7] Around 1898, a plan surfaced to rebuild the bridge as a viaduct so that it would not cross only the river, but also the rail switching yard.

[10] Because of repeated wear and deterioration caused by salt for melting ice, the bridge was restricted to pedestrians and bicycles beginning on December 16, 1986.

It began in 2011, and was described in The Denver Post as the "first time the bridge has been used for anything other than a way for people to cross the South Platte River".

[8] The latticed portals feature decorative cast iron crests and finials, and a plaque with the builder's inscription.