The Goethals Bridge was constructed in the late 1920s by the Port Authority, opening in 1928. The existing bridge, originally designed for narrower vehicles and local traffic movements, has become increasingly challenged in accommodating the expanding markets it serves. As early as the mid-1980s, the Port Authority recognized that the bridge had become functionally and physically obsolete, as original design features no longer met current standards. In addition, increasing traffic volumes and trucking activity had led to deteriorated traffic conditions and relatively higher accident rates on the bridge. These conditions were also expected to deteriorate in future years. In response, the Port Authority undertook a screening analysis of potential alternative improvements for all three Staten Island Bridges. In the early 1990s, it completed a review of the alternatives that most promisingly addressed the identified needs.
As a result of these initial studies, the Port Authority proposed the construction of a parallel bridge carrying eastbound traffic and reconfiguring the existing Goethals Bridge to carry westbound traffic on I-278. This solution would enhance carrying capacity to meet future needs and ease operational constraints caused by the design of the existing bridge. This proposal became known as the Staten Island Bridges Program - Modernization and Capacity Enhancement Project. The Port Authority began the necessary studies to gain environmental clearance for the new bridge in late 1993 and issued a final environmental document in 1997. However, due to unresolved issues, the U.S. Coast Guard did not approve the replacement project. Facing continuing traffic service and safety concerns, the Port Authority revisited its approach and began a new environmental clearance process in mid-2004. Its goals were to modernize the bridge, improve customer service, provide additional capacity for transit, and enhance safety and reliability. This process led to the conclusion that building a new, improved replacement bridge would be more cost-effective than rehabilitating and maintaining the older span. The Port Authority released its final environmental document in 2010 and the project gained the necessary approvals from the Coast Guard in January 2011.