The Rankin Bridge was first and foremost an automobile bridge, but it also accommodated streetcars with equal facility as it carried Pittsburgh Railways trolley route #55 Homestead-East Pittsburgh on both the main span (the middle two traffic lanes) and the cloverleaf ramps to Kenmawr/Braddock Avenue on the Rankin and Braddock side of the river.

The connection was an at-grade three-way "T" junction; the seldom-used third leg allowed route 68 cars to cross the bridge.

Route 55 was converted to bus on September 5, 1965, ending trolley service over the Rankin Bridge and its ramps.

Most recently, the bridge received a $47.8 million comprehensive rehabilitation, which included replacement of the concrete deck and the sidewalks.

[6] The structure is named after former Allegheny County Commissioner and State Representative George Rankin, Jr. of nearby Wilkinsburg.