It is the principal river crossing for entrance to the city from the south, although the upstream Clifton Bridge is both larger and busier.

On 21 February 1551 the responsibility for repair passed to Nottingham Corporation, through a royal charter which created the Bridge Estate.

[7] The new Trent Bridge formed part of a series of works along the banks of the river to improve flood defences by the construction of stepped, stone embankments.

[3] The Bridge Estate was created by a royal charter of King Edward VI on 21 February 1551 with Nottingham Corporation as trustee.

Normal water level which is controlled by Holmes Sluices some 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) downstream, is 20.7 metres (68 ft).

[citation needed] In December 2002, the Nottingham Princess river cruise boat crashed into the central column of the bridge when it lost control in strong currents.