The bridge links downtown Harrisburg, City Island, and the western suburbs of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

The bridge was originally constructed by the Cumberland Valley Railroad as part of the mainline from Harrisburg to Hagerstown via Chambersburg.

[1] Construction on an open iron truss bridge parallel to the existing wooden span began in September 1886.

[1] The present concrete structure was completed about 1916, and President Woodrow Wilson was one of the first to travel over the newly constructed bridge.

Alternate ideas have also included opening the bridge solely for express bus and emergency vehicle traffic.