An earlier crossing of the Hudson at this same site was constructed in 1882, also of steel girders but with older technology of additional wrought iron superstructure trusses above the roadbed and the wood plank roadbed for horse-drawn carriages, wagons and single horse-back or pedestrian traffic stretching level straight across the tops and resting / bolted on several supporting stone piers.

It is the southernmost toll-free road crossing of the upperHudson River Both two of the most recent Hudson River spans of 1933 and 1969, were named and dedicated for Private first class Parker F. Dunn (August 1890-October 1918), of the United States Army, an Albany native who was posthumously awarded the congressional Medal of Honor for his service, bravery and sacrifice in the First World War.

He was unfortunately killed in an incident that would cause him to be posthumously awarded the Nation's highest and rarest military decoration only two weeks before the peace / truce signed in the famous railway car in the Forest of Compiegne of France, between the western Allies and the enemy Central Powers of the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

[1] On July 27, 2005, the bridge was temporarily closed when a ramp leading to the Empire State Plaza split vertically, causing the roadbed to drop more than a foot.

[2][3] An unfortunate incident occurred on March 25, 2014, a man jumped off the bridge following a police chase in connection with a shooting the previous night.