The path is named for Mark Bixby, a longtime proponent of adding bike lanes to the new Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement[5][6] and a descendant of one of the original founders of Long Beach.

When it opened to traffic on October 5, 2020, the replacement bridge was redesignated as the western (southern) extension of I-710 (extending its terminus to its intersection with State Route 47) and is now the responsibility of Caltrans, District 7.

Representatives Dana Rohrabacher and Laura Richardson, Senator Alan Lowenthal and Caltrans Director Cindy McKim.

[12] In May 2012, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved Port of Long Beach staff's recommendation that the “best value” design-build proposal to replace the Gerald Desmond Bridge was submitted by the SFI joint venture team, comprising Shimmick Construction Company Inc., FCC Construction S.A. and Impregilo S.p.A.,[13] and the contract was awarded to the SFI JV in July 2012.

[14] Major participants in the joint venture also include Arup North America Ltd. and Biggs Cardosa Associates Inc.[15] The project has been completed as a design-build in contrast to the traditional design-bid-build used typically in infrastructure improvement.

[15] During the groundbreaking ceremony on January 8, 2013, two helicopters hovered 515 feet (157 m) above ground level, illustrating the height of the two cable towers for the planned replacement bridge.

The new piers were delayed by the relocation and/or removal of numerous old and active oil wells and utility lines, which prevented foundation work from beginning.

[20] Other cost increases are attributed to extra oversight required by innovative, yet contractually compliant products and materials proposed by the designers of the replacement bridge.

Mayor Robert Garcia and Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell coordinated a community effort to decide if a new name was warranted.

[28] In May 2021, Senator Lena Gonzalez and Assemblyman O'Donnell announced that the name "Long Beach International Gateway" had been chosen through a public survey [29]