 It is popularly called the "old bridge" because its original incarnation, still standing, is the city's oldest international bridge.In 1999, Texas state Historical marker 11778 was placed at the site by the Texas Historical Commission and the Cameron County Historical Commission to recognize the bridge's historical significance.In 1904, when the railroad constructed by St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway reached Brownsville, it was separated from the Mexican National Railway line by the Rio Grande.