[2] It was first a toll bridge (rates: horse-drawn rig - US$0.15, team of horses - $0.20, pedestrian - $0.05) but went toll-free in 1895.

Electric streetcars, introduced in Portland in November 1889, replaced horsecar service on the bridge in stages starting in 1890.

[2] In 2007, the original 16 colored floodlamps illuminating the concrete piers were replaced by energy-efficient and computer-controlled LEDs.

[12] Access for bicycles and pedestrians was improved in a $1.9 million project which began construction in March 2009 and added a barrier-separated path on the south side.

In 2011–12, the steel grating on the bascule deck was replaced with fiber-reinforced polymer panels to provide better traction for vehicles.

The 69-foot (21 m) clearance is sufficient for most river traffic, requiring bridge openings only about 30 times a month.