In early America, the crossing was a ford known originally as Indian or Indiantown Ford. Then successively as Gordon's, Starr's and Jacobs' Ford. The crossing gained some notoriety as Gordon's Ford when it was used by American and British troops during the American Revolutionary War. In the fall of 1777, British troops under Lord Cornwallis forced a passage at Gordon's Ford and at Fatland Ford, further downstream. In response, Washington maneuvered the Continental Army further west to protect his supply line and the Congress, then in York. This left Philadelphia lightly defended, leading to the its capture. Gordon's Ford is mentioned in the writings of both Washington and Cornwallis.
1844 bridge
In the winter of 1843–1844, local businessman Joseph Whitaker, while in the legislature, "obtained a charter for the incorporation of a company to erect a bridge over the Schuylkill at the site of th ford". That summer, a wooden covered bridge was constructed, it was one of the longest in regional history. In early 1915, state highway engineers formally recommended to the County Commissioners that the bridge be replaced. Then fate took a hand and the covered bridge burned down on May 9, 1915. A temporary wooden replacement bridge was built on piles, just down stream from the previous, until the permanent replacement could be built.
1916 bridge
In December 1915, the County Commissioners of Montgomery and Chester Counties requested sealed bids for a five span, concrete arch bridge. In 1916 construction started on the new bridge, which was completed in April 1917. The 1916 bridge was designed by B. H. Davis and constructed by Ambler-Davis Co. Each of the five concrete arches spanned, and the cost was US$103,250.
1997 bridge
In 1996 a contract was let to replace the 1916 bridge. The new bridge was designed by HDR, Inc.'s Pittsburgh office and Czop/Specter,Inc. of Worcester, Montgomery County, PA office. Construction was done by Allan A. Myers Inc. of Worcester, Pennsylvania. Many design decisions were based on the requirement to keep the closure of State Route 29 to a minimum. The project was kept to a short time line by reusing the existing bridge foundations, using steel girders, and an incentive clause in the contract. The new bridge opened in 1997. The new bridge was the first in Pennsylvania to include "shock transmission units", an earthquake damage mitigation technology.
As Chester County constructs a new section of the Schuylkill River Trail north of Phoenixville, the Mont Clare Bridge will be used to connect it to the existing portion of trail that runs from Mont Clare to Philadelphia. In September, 2012, the counties and regional planners issued a Request for Proposal to study improving the pedestrian and bicycle "Connector" on the bridge as part of the SRT. Initial plans for the Connector were presented at an open house on June 12, 2013, and were met with favorable opinions. On October 3, 2019, construction will begin to add a protected multi-use trail/lane over the bridge as part of the SRT. The vehicle travel lanes and shoulder will be narrowed, the sidewalk area will be almost doubled in width to become a 9' walking/biking lane, a concrete barrier will protect the trail on the bridge, bollards and chain will protect the trail under the railroad overpass, lighting will be added under the rail overpass. The goal is to provide a more accessible and safer connection for the SRT. The project is expected to be completed in December.
