Its building has been ascribed to King Ancus Marcius (642 - 617 BC) by Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus[citation needed].

In effect the bridge had been entirely built with wood and it is famous for the mythical episode of Horatius Cocles, during the first years of the Roman Republic[citation needed].

No remains are left of the ancient bridge, but it rose in correspondence to the present Via del Porto (probably close to the present Via di Ripa, as suggested by the text "Roma, Il primo giorno" by A. Carandini - Laterza, 2012), at the north end of the monumental complex of San Michele a Ripa Grande.

The religious tradition (originated by the necessity to easily disassemble the bridge for defense purposes) prescribed that no other material than wood could be used.

Remarkable remains of the bridge had been visible in the bed of Tiber until 1890 or so, when they were completely demolished during the works for the adaptation of the urban stretch of the river, as a preventive measure against floods.