 Possibly, the bridge was built in the 3rd century AD, when the region prospered, culminating in a large building program which emperor Philippus Arabs (r. 244-249 AD) initiated for his home town Shahba, then Philippopolis.The practice of using transversal arches for vaulting large chambers was continued in the Hauran until the early 20th century.Presumably, the bridge was built directly onto the solid stone.