Prior to the construction of the present Sunset Boulevard Bridge, a timber railroad trestle crossed Latah Creek at the same location.

[2] In the years prior to the study, deterioration on the bridge deck led the city to reduce the number of lanes from four to two.

The study found that the bridge arches, particularly in the center where they were designed to carry rail traffic, were still strong.

[5] In July 2023, the Spokane City Council approved a $64 million budget to make repairs to the aging bridge.

The semi-circular arches exert thrust in a way better suited for the large and heavier than usual piers required for the sandy ground along Latah Creek that they would be built upon.

These spandrels support the 45-foot roadway above, which was originally topped with ornamental pillars made of cast iron,[1] though they were removed sometime before 2014.

[1] The bridge carries two lanes[5] of Sunset Boulevard, a primary arterial as classified by the city.