The Superior Viaduct was proposed for improving commuting in the years following Cleveland's 1854 annexation of Ohio City. The Cuyahoga River bridges up to that time had been "low-level," necessitating being opened for every river craft that needed to pass. City voters in April of 1872 approved construction of a new bridge which was to extend from Superior Avenue and West 10th Street on the east to Detroit Avenue and West 25th Street on the west. Plans called for a western approach consisting of Berea sandstone arches built on piles driven 20' into the muddy subsoil. A total of 10 arches carried this portion of the viaduct a length of 1,382 feet 72 feet above the foundations. Connecting the masonry arches to the eastern portion of the bridge was a 332 foot pivoting center span. The eastern end of the viaduct was of girder design, 936 feet long. With approaches, the viaduct totaled 3,211 feet ‘long with a 64 foot wide roadway. Construction began in March of 1875 with the completed cost being $2.17 million. It opened to traffic in December of 1878.

Because of the center draw span, traffic still had to halt approximately 300 times each month for an average of 5 minutes to permit river vessels with tall superstructures to pass. These delays became increasingly annoying, and the procedure itself began to take a toll on the bridge structure. Voices were raised once again for a new bridge that would be completely high-level. In 1918 the Detroit-Superior Bridge was opened to traffic, and the Superior Viaduct was closed in 1920. Its eastern portion and center span were demolished in 1922, and in 1939 the easternmost 3 arches of the remaining sandstone segment were blasted away to allow for a widening of the river. Seven arches, a total of 600', remained in place on the west side of the river.

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