It was built in 1979, superseding an older swing bridge by the same name that was composed of low-lying truss segments.

The modern bridge has three lanes in each direction, in addition to a shoulder which is often used by buses to get past traffic slowdowns.

[2] Back when the old structure was the main crossing, heavy traffic delays would occur because of the bridge's small size and the need to operate the swing segment to let boat traffic pass.

[1] The narrow span continued operation as a bicycle trail until 2002 when it was deemed too unsafe.

In 2008, $2 million in state funding was approved to reopen the bridge to bicyclists and pedestrians.