The original 6 lane structure was built in 1957 and 1958 as part of the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and was financed with toll revenue bonds issued by the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 1975, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) assumed the operations of former Turnpike Authority.

Although the initial bonds were retired in 1975, additional tolls were collected to finance improvements along other sections of the former Turnpike.

Beginning in 1976, a complicated connection with the Downtown Expressway—a newer toll road built by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA)—was constructed on the bridge itself.

[3] Media related to James River Bridge (Interstate 95) at Wikimedia Commons