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Prior to the construction of today's bridges spanning the Fort Point Channel, the only bridge that connected the area to Boston was the Mount Washington Bridge, built in 1874-75, which was removed in 1909 to make way for the construction of new bridges. The Mount Washington Bridge was rendered obsolete when the Summer Street Bridge was renovated for street/pedestrian traffic, and the Old Northern Avenue Bridge was built not long after. The first Congress Street Bridge was a swing span or bascule bridge, as the Northern Avenue Bridge was to be. All bridges built during this time were meant to open for sea traffic, but today only the pedestrian Northern Avenue Bridge still opens.
Now this bridge is being renovated, but at night the lights are on illuminating it quietly. The purpose of the project is to partially demolish, and renovate and reconstruct the remaining superstructure. Portions of the bridge will also be restored for historic purposes. This bridge is also the site of the Boston Tea Party Museum.