The original span at this site was created as part of a project to build the Connecticut Turnpike, a toll road stretching from Greenwich to Killingly.

A cable-stayed design was originally considered, but the Federal Aviation Administration raised concerns over the height of the towers interfering with the approach into Tweed-New Haven Airport, which compelled CONNDOT to consider an extradosed bridge, which retains the aesthetic qualities of a cable-stayed structure but can be built with shorter towers due to the roadway also being supported by girders (in this case prestressed concrete box girders).

[7] Mayor DeStefano further argued that CONNDOT should include the expansion of I-95 through Long Wharf and West Haven into the overall plan instead of pursuing these projects separately.

While this makes the project more manageable for contractors and highway officials, this approach significantly added to the time required to complete the new bridge.

Work under this contract was completed in August 2007 with the demolition of the Yale Boathouse and the Fitch Foundry where the west abutment of the new bridge will be.

A second contract was let on June 1, 2007, to relocate two 42-inch (1.06 meter) diameter sanitary sewer lines that lie directly beneath where part of the new bridge will be built.

Contract B was awarded to a joint venture between Walsh Construction of Chicago, Illinois and Denver, Colorado-based PCL Constructors for $417 million in July 2009.

The two companies previously formed a joint venture to replace the Moses Wheeler Bridge over the Housatonic River several miles west in Stratford.

The first stage included the construction of the southern span alongside and to the south of the original bridge, which now carries northbound lanes of I-95.

As a result, completion of the project is now scheduled for 2016, four years later than originally planned, although this might change as the southern half was opened six months early.

[16] The bridge was named the Grand Prize winner of AASHTO's 2016 America's Transportation Awards, prevailing over 83 other entries from state DOTs nationwide.