Until the 18th century, crossing the Guanabara Bay on small boats could take up to four hours. By land, it took half that time to go around the 100 km of the bay. It was only in 1835 that steam ferries drastically shortened the journey: in just 30 minutes, one could travel from one side to the other.

Even so, about 40 years later, plans emerged to permanently connect Rio de Janeiro—then the capital of the Empire—to Niterói, the capital of the State of Guanabara. The proposed projects varied, from an underwater tunnel to a bridge with space for apartments, shops, garages, cinemas, and even a panoramic elevator.

But while none of these plans materialized, workers suffered from overcrowding, delays, and high fares for the crossing. These problems led to a popular uprising in May 1959, known as the Revolta das Barcas (Ferry Revolt). The riot, which resulted in injuries and even deaths, accelerated the search for a definitive solution to connect the two cities.

A thorough study conducted by the federal government in 1963 determined that a bridge was the best option. In addition to having the lowest total cost, the bridge would cause less interference with maritime and air navigation as well as urban traffic in both cities.