The Newburyport Bridge Corporation received its charter on March 4, 1826. James Prince, John Wood, Stephen Frothingham, and others were named as the Proprietors of the Newburyport Bridge. John Porter was clerk and treasurer of the Corporation for 32 years, followed by A.D. Brown and R. Fowler. Thomas Haven served as the agent for the construction of the bridge.

The Corporation's charter stated that the Proprietors were authorized within three years to build a bridge across the Merrimack River at some convenient point between the westerly side of Kent Street and the easterly side of Market Street in Newburyport to some convenient point in Salisbury. The charter contained guidelines for the construction of the bridge and provided for the collection of tolls by the Proprietors. The tolls were to start on the first day the bridge and road were open to traffic and continue for forty years. Then the bridge was to revert to, and become the property of, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Construction on the bridge was started in 1826, shortly after the charter was granted, and completed in the fall of 1827. The bridge consisted of two roadways, suspended side by side, and provided for passage of foot passengers as well as carriages and other vehicles. A draw was provided for the passage of vessels up and down the river.

On April 8, 1840 an agreement was reached between the Newburyport Bridge Corporation and the Eastern Railroad Company by which the latter agreed to erect a new bridge utilizing the existing pieces of the Newburyport Bridge.

The new bridge was to consist of two road-beds, one above the other. The top road-bed was for railroad traffic, and the lower one for foot traffic, carriages, and other vehicles. Under this agreement the Newburyport Corporation still had the collection and use of the tolls. Because of heavy traffic, a separate railroad bridge was eventually built.

In 1867, the charter of the Corporation expired and the bridge reverted to the Commonwealth.