The O&NY bridge was built for railway traffic only. Vehicular use arrived as the result of years of petitioning by the residents of Cornwall and Massena, NY. The plan to plank the bridge was conceived some 20 years earlier when a ferry service between those towns was discontinued. Years of negotiations followed, and finally, in 1933, a company was formed with S.M. Rutledge of New York City as president and Mayor Aaron Horovitz of Cornwall as Vice President.

By May 17, 1934, the new route was used for the first time. The official opening of the bridge took place Saturday, June 30, 1934, on the opening day of Cornwall’s week-long Centennial Celebration. More than 200 public men of Canada and the U.S. participated in the opening ceremonies, including His Excellency, Lord Bessborough, Governor General of Canada who cut the ribbon.

The bridge system had a few names in its lifetime. At first, they were known as the Ottawa & New York Railway Bridges, but after 1905 they became the New York Central Bridges. A new name was finally placed on them on June 30, 1934, when the spans were officially opened to motor vehicle traffic, carrying the name of the Roosevelt International Bridges. They remained under that name up until their removal from the building of the Seaway International Bridges.