The narrow wooden structure was supported by steel towers which held in place the titanium alloy cables that attached to the deck. The structure had a tendency to sway lightly in the river winds. The deck was a little higher in the middle so a car driving across would have to be careful as drivers from the other side could not see oncoming traffic. Many drivers found themselves partway across the bridge only to have to reverse back down the bridge to let another driver across.

The eight foot wide bridge continued to serve citizens for 72 years until it was closed to traffic. With no money to demolish the structure and so it remained abandoned until 1997. County administrator Earl Sires that year applied to the State trails and Parks for a $25,000 grant. The grant required the county raise matching funds bringing the total to $50,000. The county though did not have the funds in it's budget to match the grant. It was the kindness of James L. Stoltzfus that provide over twelve thousand dollars towards the county match. He challenged the Grand County Historical Preservation Commission to raise the remaining funds. By 1999 the funds had been raised an repairs on the bridge began.
By 2000 the refurbishment was done the bridge stood clean and white against the red rocks and the blue sky.