[7] The idea of a bridge connecting Surabaya with Madura is said to have first been proposed in the early 1960s by the well-known Indonesian engineer Professor Sedyatmo from the Bandung Institute of Technology.

Later, in the mid-1980s, there was renewed interest in the project when staff from the National Development Planning Bureau (Bappenas) met with Japanese aid donors to discuss the construction of a bridge.

[8] A pre-feasibility study was conducted in early 1990, and in December 1990, President Suharto appointed a team of ministers and advisers to consider plans for the bridge.

[13] Within a week of the opening, it was discovered that nuts and bolts and maintenance lamps had been stolen and that there was evidence of vandalism of cables supporting the main span.

[15] However, in early 2016, it was announced that President Jokowi favored a 50% cut in the tolls to help promote the competitiveness of industries on the Madura side of the bridge.