The Wettstein Bridge was commissioned by a group of people that were not happy with a proposal for a replacement pedestrian and motor bridge which was favored by the building department of the Swiss city of Basel.  The original bridge was to be replaced by a standard bridge design, which was to rest on the original bridge's piers.

The Wettstein Bridge's design is such that the arches can be extremely shallow and the frame can be very light.  As is typical of a Calatrava design, cantilevers play a large role, with pedestrian walkways cantilevering off of the sides of the bed.