Arthur W. Grafton commissioned two studies in 1952 and 1953, with their results being a need for two bridges in Louisville; one crossing to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and the other to New Albany.

At the time it was dedicated, it was named the Louisville-New Albany Bridge.New Albany Mayor C. Pralle Erni suggested to Indiana State Senator Clifford H. Maschmeyer of Clarksville to name the new bridge for the former United States Senator and Supreme Court justice Sherman Minton.

On April 4, 1962, Indiana governor Matthew E. Welsh made the formal announcement that it would be named for Minton, who was a native of New Albany.

[1] On February 5, 2009, a fifteen container coal barge lost power and was pushed downstream by the current and struck the bridge's central pier.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) closed the bridge for several hours while it was inspected for damage.

Experts from INDOT, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and private engineering firms and academic institutions participated in determining the severity of this crack and others found on the bridge, and determine whether the bridge could be saved.

The contract attached 1,200 short tons (1,100 t) of reinforcing steel plating along both sides of the bridge ties spanning 1,600 feet (490 m).

The repairs along with regular maintenance increased the bridge's safety and reliability and extend its useful life by at least 20 years.

One consultant who worked on a transportation study for the Kentucky government predicted that traffic on the Sherman Minton would increase by nearly 40% once tolling on the other bridges started.