The bridge is composed of three spans; the two outer ones are fixed and the central section can be raised to provide a navigation channel in the harbour.

[3] The bridge was designed by the Irish artist Eilis O'Connell, in conjunction with Ove Arup & Partners engineers.

He condemned the decision as "gesture politics", instead wanting a statue or permanent memorial to remember Bristol's role in the slave trade.

For four days in June 2020, the Statue of Edward Colston, a Bristolian slave trader, lay at the bottom of the harbour directly south of the bridge after being toppled from its plinth by protestors during the George Floyd protests.

It now resides as a permanent feature in Bristol's M-Shed museum shown now lying instead of standing, with all original protest graffiti maintained.