It replaced the Santa Cruz Bridge that was destroyed during World War II.

The bridge is named after General Douglas MacArthur, whose military operations led to the liberation of the Philippines during World War II.

The bridge was originally part of the procession route during the Feast of the Black Nazarene every January 9 from 2007 to 2013.

However, after the Department of Public Works and Highways declared the bridge unstable and deemed it insufficient to carry millions of devotees, the processions were rerouted to the adjacent Jones Bridge.

[6][7][8] A monument to Douglas MacArthur stood at the foot of the south end of the bridge.