This 4-lane freeway bridge replaced the old Eagle Point Bridge in the 1980s. US-61 and US-151 used the Eagle Point Bridge until that bridge became functionally obsolete. As a result, US-61 and US-151 were moved to the US-20 Julien Dubuque Bridge downstream a few miles. When this bridge was opened, US-61 and US-151 moved back to this more northern alignment. Then new US-61 and US-151 river crossing dramatically improved traffic flow through Dubuque as the US-20 bridge is often backed up. This bridge is also known as the City Island Bridge since it crosses City Island on the Iowa side of the river.

This is the second largest arch bridge on the Mississippi River. The I-255 Jefferson Barracks Bridge in Saint Louis is larger, while the I-280 Bridge in the Quad Cities and US-18 Marquette-Joliet Bridge just upstream in Prairie du Chien are smaller.