However, when the bonds did not sell, the Omaha Bridge Commission was formed to secure financing from the Public Works Administration.

The initial design by the Kansas City architects Ash, Howard, Needles and Tammen called for the bridge to have seven spans.

However, when the War Department announced plans to reroute the river channel, the design was changed to two 525-foot (160 m), continuously supported, Warren through spans and a series of Warren deck truss approach spans.

The bridge provided a much-needed direct route across the Missouri River to the Omaha Stockyards for livestock delivery trucks.

On June 11, 2008, an additional height restriction requiring vehicles to be under 8 feet (2.4 m) was imposed.