The original bridge closed in 2009 due to structural deficiency.

The 1906 bridge, a three-span steel truss structure, was imploded shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 11, 2011.

[2] Construction delays caused the original December 2012 projected opening date to be pushed back to June 29, 2013.

The Pennsylvania Legislature voted to name the new bridge after Mon Valley native John Tener, a former U.S. Representative and state governor.

Tener, an ex-professional baseball player who organized the first congressional baseball game, owned the Mercantile Bridge Company, which designed the original bridge that connected the two cities.