It is owned by the Southern Illinois and Missouri Bridge Company, now a Union Pacific subsidiary.

Following approval of the bridge plans in 1902, limited construction activities began that year.

[3] Following litigation over right of way that prevented certain work from proceeding from May 1902 to April 1903,[4] construction continued with the concrete arch approach structures in 1903, and the bridge superstructure itself in 1904.

[3] The legal issues "delayed considerably" the completion of the Missouri approach work, one of the main river piers, and led to an increased expense in constructing the superstructure.

The American Bridge Company in turn subcontracted the superstructure's erection to Kelley-Atkinson Construction Co of Chicago.