Update—this bridge underwent extensive maintenance in the fall of 2012. The work included replacing the fencing and repainting the structure to a more earthen brown tone. As this was written, it was expected that it would reopen to pedestrians during the first week of November, 2012.
A comment to an on-line newspaper article about the bridge project suggested that the bridge was built after a child was struck by a car and killed crossing highway 45 on his way to St. Mary's school, located a few blocks south of the bridge site.
The photo above is looking northwest along Megal Drive, which parallels the northbound lanes of US-41 and US-45. The red roof in the background behind the south bridge tower is the Steinhafels furniture store. The photo below is looking north towards the south end of the bridge as seen from the sidewalk where Richfield Way turns south and becomes Water Street.