The Stossel Bridge is one of six significant representative examples of the evolution of bridge engineering in King County. The significant engineering feature of this bridge is the 180-foot riveted steel Warren through-truss span. Constructed in 1951, the Stossel Bridge represents one of the first, and one of the few, steel bridges built in the early 1950s. Because of the Korean War, the National Defense Program permitted only small quantities of critical metals, such as steel, to be used on nonmilitary projects. Shortages of material and skilled steel workers may have influenced the truss style and materials. The use of a polygonal top chord reduced the amount of steel required. Use of standard shapes of rolled steel members, as opposed to a “built-up” riveted steel section used in earlier truss bridges, significantly reduced the amount of labor needed to fabricate the truss.