The Gateway Bridge was developed by the Detroit Regional Gateway Advisory Council (DRGAC) in preparation for Super Bowl XL, hosted in nearby Detroit in February 2006.

Hull Company was contracted to construct the bridges and Dan's Excavating Inc. performed demolition work.

[4] Engineers from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) worked with Alfred Benesch & Company to create the bridge design.

The bridge features twin tied-arch steel spans featuring two large blue ovals, augmented with additional ovals, meant to evoke images of footballs, to commemorate Super Bowl XL.

addition of a microsilica concrete overlay was unusual in Michigan at the time of the bridge's construction.

[2] In 2007, the National Steel Bridge Alliance awarded the design in its medium span category.