in 1887, a bridge was built across the willamette river at albany for the corvallis and eastern railway followed by the steel bridge built in 1893 just down river. the state of oregon began building a new bridge across the river at the city in 1925 to carry vehicular traffic. designed by state highway department bridge designer conde mccullough, it was constructed by the union bridge company based in portland, oregon. the steel truss structure was completed in 1926.