The Department of Highways built the Highway 22 Gratz Bridge during a period of major road improvements in Kentucky, as automobiles and trucks became increasingly common and the public demanded better roads. By the end of the 1920s, the Department of Highways employed some 180000 people and accounted for almost half of the state's budget. It opened bids for bridges across all of the state's major rivers, including the Kentucky River, and the Gratz Bridge connecting Owen and Henry Counties opened in 1931. The bridge was significant for a design that incorporated elements of two 19th century bridge types. It consisted of two Warren truss bridges attached to either end of a centrally located Parker Camelback truss bridge. Developed in the 19th century, both bridge types were known for their stability, strength, and ability to span long distances, and their combination allowed the bridge to safely span the full width of the Kentucky River. A significant example of a metal truss highway bridge, it was declared eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Plans to replace the historic Gratz Bridge were finalized in 2008.