Officially titled the Ponte di San Francesco di Paola, the bridge has two swing spans that pivot near the banks of the canal to meet in the middle of the canal.

When open, the halves are parallel to the embankment, leaving the width of the canal clear for passage.

The first bridge was hydraulically operated using water stored in the Castello Aragonese.

The 1958 replacement was designed by the National Society of Savigliano and built in the former Tosi shipyard in Taranto.

It was inaugurated on 10 March 1958 by Italian president Giovanni Gronchi.