The bridge was the recipient of an award from the American Institute of Steel Construction. Given that this award was given by a group interested in the use of steel, it is logical to assume that a primary reason for the bridge to qualify for this award was the use of a steel superstructure. Since the award-qualifying steel superstructure has been replaced, and further because the replacement superstructure fails to accurately replicate the original superstructure construction, the bridge is no longer significant as an example of an award-winning superstructure.

The original bascule bridge was designed by Hazelet and Erdal, which were the successors to the prolific and significant Sherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company. However because the superstructure has been replaced and because the replacement does not accurately replicate the original design, it is no longer an example of this firm's work. 

The substructure of this bridge and the bridge tender building both appear to include a combination of original bridge material and modern materials that do indeed appear as though they may replicate the original bridge design. Thus, the bridge might still retain some significance as an example of period architecture, since these elements do contain substantial architectural detailing. 

It is HistoricBridges.org's policy that complete removal and replacement of a superstructure of a historic bridge constitutes a historic bridge demolition/removal. Thus, even if elements of the substructure and bridge tender building have been retained or replicated, the bridge should not be considered a historic bridge. Had the superstructure been exactly replaced with a superstructure using built-up girders with rivets (or perhaps even bolted with rivet-simulating button-headed bolts) the bridge might be worth recognizing as a good attempt to replicate a historic bridge. However because the replacement project failed to even do this, HistoricBridges.org cannot consider this bridge to be a "historic bridge."

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of all this is that fixed west channel bridge was beautifully rehabilitated and this bridge's superstructure retains excellent historic integrity. Since both bridges were built at the same time of similar construction, it is unclear why the bascule bridge could not have been rehabilitated in a similar manner.