In 1879, Gustave Eiffel presented a project to construct a new bridge over the Douro, with a high single deck in order to facilitate ship navigation.

[2] This project was rejected due to dramatic growth of the urban population, which required a re-thinking of the limits of a single-deck platform.

[2] It was in January of the following year that deliberations by the committee supported the project of Société de Willebroek, a design that cost 369,000$00[clarification needed] réis and provided better carrying capacity.

[2] On 1 January 1944, the toll system was extinguished and the bridge began to function as free infrastructure of the municipal authority of Porto.

Infante Dom Henrique Bridge, 500 m (1,600 ft) upriver, was completed three months earlier to provide an alternative vehicle connection between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.

[6] The bridge is situated in an isolated, urban area over the River Douro between the granite banks, where the Cathedral of Porto and the escarpment of the Serra do Pilar form a box valley.

Access to the Porto side is located along the Pillars of Ponte Pênsil, while the Guindais Funicular, the Church and Shelter of Ferro, the Fernandina Walls and the Monastery of Serra do Pilar.

[2] The lower deck is based on large foundations supporting molded cornices and wedges linked together by a felled arch, and framed by interlacing beams.

[2] The bridge has an asphalt pavement for vehicular traffic, separated by cast iron guards, that limit the pedestrian sidewalks, that develop laterally.