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The Grade II listed Link bridge was designed by George Stephenson as part of his work on the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company's trans-Pennine route, terminating at Victoria Station immediately adjacent to the bridge. It dates to 1844, the second phase of railway construction when railway building enthusiasm was at its height and much of the national network was laid down Its 1884 extension formed part of the longest passenger platform in Europe until the adjoining Manchester Exchange Station was closed in 1969.

The south side is a plate girder construction over both Victoria Street (A56) and the River Irwell, supported by a masonry wall alongside the station to the east. To the west is a matching abutment to those on the north face (rebuilt to match the original), and in the centre between the two spans is a matching double abutment with a short length of stone walling between, carrying a stone parapet. The two abutment pillars are at different heights to accommodate the variations in ground level between the road and river. The road span has a parapet in cast iron with raised and fielded panels, every third one containing a rosette, and with small lion heads at intervals along the top. The river span has a plain iron parapet with the girder construction visible below.

The platform of the former Exchange Station survives as an extension from the western end of Victoria Station, running over both road and river to what used to be car park that occupied the former station. That is now part of the Greengate development.

The bridge has a height limit of 14' 9" (4.5m").

The building above the bridge on the right is the Manchester Arena.