The Ohio River Bridge was conceived and built in the public interest by the Cairo Bridge Commission with the cooperation of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works and the highway departments of Illinois and Kentucky. Completed November 11, 1933, it was operated and maintained by the commission, and through tolls and the untiring efforts of many public-spirited citizens, all costs were repaid. The highway departments of Illinois and Kentucky then jointly accepted the bridge as part of the state highway systems to be maintained as a toll-free facility, and it was freed of tolls on November 11, 1948. Ray Williams served as chairman of the commission, with Jas. S. Johnson, M.C. Anderson, Thos. H. Cutler, W.H. Creason, John C. Fisher, and Reed Green as members, and Marion Woodward as secretary. Modjeski and Masters handled design and construction as engineers, Sverdrup and Parcel handled operation and maintenance, Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company built the substructure, and Mount Vernon Bridge Company built the superstructure.