Originally
it was called Tito Bridge. It was built by the Mostogradnja and Hidroelektra
companies based on the design of the engineer Ilija Stojadinović from Belgrade,
a native of Otočac in Lika. When the bridge was completed, it had the longest
reinforced concrete arch in the world, with a span of 390 metres. In fact, the
bridge consists of two arches. This longer arch is between the mainland and the
islet of Sveti Marko, and the shorter arch is between Sveti Marko and the shore
of the island of Krk. The construction of the bridge encouraged the economic
development of the island and partly halted its depopulation.