Named after inventor Thomas Alva Edison, the two bridges carry each direction of U.S. Highway 41 Business (US 41 Bus.)

The original bridge, which was located on the site of the southbound span, was once part of Tamiami Trail.

[2] Edison, who had a winter home in Fort Myers, dedicated the bridge, and was also the first to drive across it.

[4] It crossed the river at Freemont Street and connected to present-day Old Bridge Road in North Fort Myers.

[7] The East End Bridge's remaining wooden structure was destroyed by a fire in 1940.

The current bridges are 55 feet (17 m) tall, which eliminated the need for a drawbridge, and carry a combined six lanes across the river.