The Manawatu Gorge road opened in 1872, and in 1875 the bridge at the Woodville end was built to replace the ford across the Manawatu River. The bridge measured 428 feet in length, and the main span was 162 feet with five side spans of 40 feet and four spans of 16 1/2 feet each. The bridge was built 68 1/2 feet above the river level to negate flood problems. Mr J. Carruthers designed the bridge and H. M. Neil, contractors, completed building 31 May 1875, at a cost of £11,000.