Winona was once located on a island in the river. The western-most channel has since filled in with silt or has been filled in with debris over the years. The result is that the highway river crossing is about a mile through city streets from the main route of US-14 and US-61. The lack of a direct route diminishes the usefullness of this bridge.

The river crossing here is composed of 3 bridges in all, this main channel structure, the North Channel Bridge, and a short bridge over the rairoad tracks on the Wisconsin side. This is the second highway bridge to stand in this spot, having replaced the 1891 structure. There once was two railroad bridges at Winona, both just downstream from this location.