The upper deck is a critical link in the elevated Kansas City Highline viaduct originally constructed to carry passenger trains over several busy freight junctions west of the Union Station.

Construction of the bridge and several miles of associated viaducts largely on the northwest side of river cost $3M and was part of $4.5M (approximately $100M adjusted for inflation to 2022) in total improvements needed for the terminal relocation project.

Since the old bridge carried approximately 180 train movements per day across the river it could not be removed from operation to accommodate construction.

All three truss sections that cross the river between the levees have lift jacks to raise the bridge above a high flood.

That junction was the KCTR's original connection to Santa Fe's property a short distance from the ATSF Argentine classification yard.

This allows access to the BNSF Argentine classification yard as well as the Fort Scott and Emporia Subdivisions to the south and west respectively.