Semanggi Interchange was built in the 1960s as the part of infrastructure development for 1962 Asian Games and Sukarno's vision to make Jakarta as the beacon of a new and powerful nation of Indonesia.

The modification was done to make way for the construction of Jakarta Inner Ring Road, which would use the original bridge structure.

[8] In 2016, the Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama revealed a plan to build two elevated roads around the Semanggi cloverleaf to reduce traffic congestion in the area.

It was opened to traffic on 28 July 2017[11] and officially inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 17 August 2017.

Along with the sidewalk revitalization project along Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, a cultural spot was built under the Semanggi Interchange, presicely in the area of a tiny road made for motorcycles.

[13] To make Jakarta more friendly for cyclers and pedestrians, in August 2022, a new bicycle lane was built at the Semanggi Interchange which was separated from the motorized road.

[21] The Semanggi Shootings were two incidents when state troops opened fire on unarmed civilians and protesters during special sessions of parliament.