An early viaduct (the Weatherly Viaduct) was built in 1915 to carry 1st Avenue North over the railroad tracks near Sloss Furnace.  The October, 1915 issue of the Birmingham Magazine touted the completion of the "Weatherly Viaduct", which was completed October, 1915.

The Weatherly Viaduct elevated N. 1st Street in the area of Sloss Furnace, and the very busy railroad tracks which served Terminal Station.   The article notes that the viaduct was the first permanent (there were earlier ones of wood) to be completed "as the result of movement to eliminate grade crossings started 27 years ago."  This means that concerned citizens began to complain in 1888, when the City was only 17 years old.

This page is from the Birmingham Magazine of October, 1915, which is found at the Birmingham Public Library.

Note that the present 1st Avenue Viaduct dates from 1950.

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But it would be almost 5 more years before the next bridge would be constructed, the Rainbow Viaduct, honoring WW I veterans, on 21st Street, opened in 1919.