The bridge is strategically situated in an important place. Construction of the bridge provided road access for the coastal area on the south side, connecting it to Bodø and the mainland road network. In Norway, the Saltstraumen Bridge is one of several concrete bridges built during a 20-year period (roughly 1960-1980). These bridges were built to connect various coastal communities. Several of these bridges were constructed using the principle of "free standing"

the first one was the Tromsø Bridge, which was completed in 1960.