The Marienbrücke exists twice: two directly adjacent Elbe crossings are so designated. The former is used exclusively for road traffic, the latter is purely a railway bridge.

The Marienbrücke was the second fixed Elbe crossing after the Augustusbrücke; its construction dates back to 1852, and the railway bridge was put into operation in 1901. The latter was replaced between 2001 and 2004 by a new prestressed concrete bridge 490 metres long for five tracks.

The Marienbrücke is characterised by a high volume of traffic and carries the federal roads 6 and 173.