Construction of the bridge began on April 1, 1930. The vertical lift span was considered a modern design when it was built. When the lift span is lifted, it provides a clearance of 138 feet, high enough for the tallest vessels of the time to pass. The lifting mechanism is propelled by two 80-horsepower electric motors, hoisting the 540-foot-long main span - the longest of its type when it was built (and exceeding the length of the longest lift span by 200 feet. Flanking the lift span are two 200-foot-long through-truss side spans, and two approaches measuring approximately 1,500 feet long. The bridge opened to traffic on May 1, 1931, after only 13 months of construction. When the bridge opened, cars paid 35 cents to cross the span.