The ore used in the furnaces was hauled by team from Whitehall and South Whitehall townships. With the increase of the furnace capacity came the multiplication of ore teams and consequently an enlarged toll bill by the bridge company. The haul via Biery's bridge also meant a hard mile to traverse, especially during certain seasons of the year.

The Lehigh Crane Iron Company resolved, about 1845, to build a bridge of their own immediately above the furnaces. The statute laws of Pennsylvania, however, forbade the erection of a bridge so near an existing bridge.

To circumvent this statute, the Iron Company purchased land on both sides of the river and thus were in a position to construct a private bridge. The public was granted free use of this bridge until the Crane Iron Company acquired a majority of the stock of the Biery's bridge, when, according to statute privilege of the State, toll was collected.

During 1857, the bridge was reinforced and strengthened in order to carry locomotive ("The Hercules") and ore-cars brought in over the newly-constructed Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad. After destruction by the flood of 1862, a wooden arch bridge, similar to the Biery's bridge, was built. During the 1890's the company discontinued asking toll; and, when the railroads began to construct the large "gondola" cars, it was found that the bridge was incapable of bearing their weight and also afforded too narrow a space for their passage. Orders for coke and other materials included the stipulation that the larger type of cars must not be used for these shipments.

During 1904, the company removed the old wooden structure and erected a modern railroad bridge, capable of supporting the weightiest and most massive rolling stock in use. Thus the community was limited to the use of the Race Street bridge or the Hokendauqua bridge for passage across the river, much to the discomfort and inconvenience of traveling public.