The original Memorial Causeway Bridge was a two-lane flat span drawbridge that opened officially on Armistice Day, November 11, 1927.

A portion of the original bridge was demolished with the remaining section kept open as a fishing pier.

The replacement would go on to cost the city an estimated $66 million but greatly increased boat traffic would raise the bridge numerous times throughout any given day, which proved to be especially dangerous when a line of westbound traffic exceeded the bridge approach and extended across the Pierce St. intersection.

Many alternatives and designs were considered during the planning process, including concepts that ranged from a higher drawbridge to a miniature Sunshine Skyway-type bridge.

However, due to issues during the construction process, the bridge opened over a year behind schedule, finally receiving its first traffic in August 2005. https://www.thecauseway.us/information/