In 1842, this bridge was designed by Giovanni Picco, an Italian architect from Villach, and named Franz`s Bridge, in honor of Archduke Franz Karl of Austria. It also became known as the Franciscan Bridge . This bridge, opened on 25 September 1842, had two arches and a metal fence. The essentials of the bridge have been preserved until today, which is evidenced by the inscribed dedication to the archduke above its central pier, reading in Latin `ARCHIDVCI. FRANCISCO. CAROLO. MDCCCXLII. CIVITAS.`, which means `To Archduke Franz Karl in 1842 by the Town.` In order to prevent the 1842 stone arch bridge from being a bottleneck, the architect JoÃ
¾e PleÃÂnik designed in 1929 the extension of the bridge with two footbridges at a slight angle on each side of it. Construction started in 1931 and continued until spring 1932. The bridge was opened for traffic in April 1932.
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