Beginning from the 19th century the residential areas have enlarged and moved in the northern part of the Golden Horn. Therefore several projects were prepared to connect its both sides with a bridge. In the previous centuries Leonardo da Vinci had also presented a project to the Sultan. In order not to close the Golden Horn which was the natural harbour of the city, the transportation was being realized with barges. Because at that period the bridge engeneering had not developed yet. When Topkapi Palace was abandoned and the dynasty moved in the Dolmabahce Palace, construction of a bridge became inevitable.
The first bridge over the Golden Horn was constructed between Unkapani and Azapkapi in 1836. Then another bridge was needed to connect the city center to Galata. Its construction was completed in 1845.
The idea of construction of the bridge was leaded by Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan and therefore it was named after as Valide Sultan Bridge (New Galata Bridge). It was constructed in front of the New Mosque. It was the first wooden bridge and restoed between 1863-1875. It was a tool-bridge in previous years. Another bridge of 468m length was consturctec by the Germanb firm MAN and it served until 1992. But it was thoroughly damaged after a fire. The last bridge, by German Thyssen, was seated upon 114 steels stakes, the length of each being 80m and diameter 2m. Since ships have to enter the Golden Horn, the new Galata Bridge was built as a draw bridge (length 484m), which has 4 collapsible wings. Each these weigh 500 tones.
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