[4] By 1972, the bridge had begun to deteriorate due to years of road salt, and required patching of the south span across the Santa Fe Railway track.

[3] By 1973, Lawrence and Douglas County had agreed to hold a bond election for replacement of the Kansas River bridge.

[7] Voters approved the bond issue to replace the Kansas River bridge in November 1974.

[8] The consultant recommended that an eight-ton weight limit be imposed on the bridge, which was approved by the Lawrence City Commission over the opposition of truckers.

[4] Additional delays occurred on the new Massachusetts Street bridge; it was completed by January 1980, roughly a year and a half behind schedule.