To meet the demands of the World Fair of 1900, it was envisaged to replace the existing bridge with one combining both a railway and a carriageway for road vehicles. It was only in 1902 that a competition was organised by the Métropolitan and Seine Navigation services with a view to establishing a bridge with two levels: the lower level comprising of a road bridge with two carriageways separated by a central promenade, and, an upper level- the viaduct of the métropolitan- supported underneath by metallic columns along its central axe.