Constructed 1981–1982,[1][2] the bridge was named in recognition of Akron's past All-America City Awards[1] and is also locally known as the Y-Bridge.

[3] The poem Under the Viaduct, 1932 from the Pulitzer Prize winning book of poems Thomas and Beulah by Rita Dove, referenced the North Hill Viaduct.

Over its existence, the North Hill Viaduct had been the site of at least one suicide a year, though police records were not complete.

[7] Fencing the bridge was controversial in Akron and the plan had previously failed to receive local support.

[12] The project was finally completed in late December 2011 at a total cost of around $8.7 million.