Rail traffic often held up car crossings, causing long and often very lengthy waits, which were a part of daily life in the Central Valley until the new bridge was completed.

Beneath the bridge's north abutment is an important river-level gauge monitored during the annual Fraser freshet.

[1] The Mission Railway Bridge has a swing span which has a vertical clearance of 4.9 metres above the water when closed.

The swing span is fitted atop a circular concrete pier, the 10th from the north bank of the river.

The majority of marine traffic consists of log tows and gravel barges, which are permitted to use the navigation channel beneath the fixed span between piers 5 and 6.