The bridge carries both the Dalton Highway and the Alaska Pipeline in connecting Fairbanks with Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field.

[6][7] As part of construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, a permanent crossing of the Yukon River became necessary in order to complete the project.

[2] To be constructed as joint venture between the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and the State of Alaska, the bridge was to be supported by tiers anchored to bedrock beneath the river.

[4] The cofferdam failed at its base where workers were working to set one of the concrete and steel bridge piers.

[5] This allowed Alyeska to start using the span, thus eliminating the need to construct an ice bridge that winter to transport materials across the river.