At the site of the current bridge, Hyland operated a ferry across the river.

The ferry operated until 1907, when a bridge was built by Nels Roney,[4][5] who was also the builder of the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House in Eugene.

[6] In 1953, in preparation for the flooding expected to be caused by the Dexter Dam in two years, the entire bridge was raised 6 feet (1.8 m), and the floor replaced.

Unlike the prior damage, the bridge was repaired with new roof braces and portal boards[5] before the bypass was opened a few weeks later.

[4] The Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Lane County, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the United States Forest Service built an interpretive center in 2006 for $1.2 million.