The contract for the construction of the new bridge was given by the Board of Works to Francis Ritchie & Son, with a tendered price of £27,000. The bridge was designed by Thomas Jackson and John Fraser, in their respective roles as county surveyors of Antrim and Down (the river is the county boundary). However, in 1836, Jackson was replaced as Antrim county surveyor by Charles Lanyon who supervised the construction with Fraser.
The contract for the construction of the new bridge was awarded to Francis Ritchie & Son, at a cost of £27,000. The bridge's design was created by Thomas Jackson and John Fraser, who held the positions of county surveyor for Antrim and Down respectively. However, in 1836, Jackson was replaced as Antrim county surveyor by Charles Lanyon, who oversaw the construction alongside Fraser.