[6] James H. Simpson, an officer in the U.S. Army and a member of the United States Corps of Topographical Engineers, was placed in charge of road construction.

Federal involvement in the road projects ended after Minnesota became a state, and the last personal left Saint Paul in 1861.

On September 2, 1863, a contract was made with Michael Hanley and Fredrick Curtis for the construction of a stone bridge across Brown's Creek by the Washington County Commissioners.

By 1858, the year Minnesota became a state, two-thirds of the Point Douglas to St. Louis River Road was substantially complete.

[6] The bridge is built of locally quarried limestone by Washington County Commissioner William Willim, who also was a stone and plaster contractor.