It was built in 1930, initially as a toll bridge,[2] and remains structurally sound.

It was completed in 1930, with the first car crossing the bridge on May 19 of that year on an official inspection trip.

[3] In 1986, to serve additional traffic volumes crossing the Mississippi River into Quincy, the Illinois Department of Transportation constructed the Bayview Bridge just to the north of the Memorial Bridge.

Since 2012, demolition and replacement of the historic Memorial Bridge with a more modern one is being considered by the Illinois Department of Transportation to cope with increased traffic demands on the aging bridge.

[4][5][6] Detailed in the 2029 Rebuild Illinois Highway Improvement Program, Quincy is slated to receive $156 million to replace the outdated Memorial Bridge, along with other funds, and is set to be completed by 2029.