The purpose of the HAER documentation and the brochure are to provide written and photographic documentation of the history of commerce on the Raccoon Creek as it relates to the Locke Avenue Bridge and the history and physical operation of this type of movable bridge as located in this type of setting.

It was a single-lane, center pivot swing bridge that carried vehicular traffic over Raccoon Creek.

The swing span was designed to manually rotate at its center pivot pier, which allowed marine traffic to pass underneath.

Overall condition of the bridge was poor due to increasing deterioration of the superstructure and substructure, which resulted in the posted load limit.

Both northern and southern roadway approaches to the bridge sat on a sag profile that created sight distance issues for drivers.

An environmental permit was issued to Hatch Mott MacDonald by New Jersey Department of Transportation to replace the swing bridge.