The project received required approval from both the Portland and Milwaukie city councils and Oregon's Metro regional governmental agency in 2008.
TriMet approved a $127 million contract to build the bridge in December 2010.
Onsite engineering of the TriMet design was handled by the HNTB Corporation with primary contracting performed by Kiewit.

Construction of the bridge was estimated to cost $134.6 million, to be paid for by federal grants, Oregon Lottery revenue and TriMet.
Construction of the bridge began in June 2011, with a slow/no wake zone put in place to ensure the safety of river users and bridge construction workers.
Beginning in July 2011, an exclusion area around the in-water bridge construction site went into effect.
Construction of the bridge itself was scheduled for completion in 2014, followed by several months of work to install tracks and other infrastructure across the bridge.

As part of testing the signaling and overhead catenary systems, MAX and streetcar vehicles first ran across the bridge under their own power on January 21, 2015.
The project received required approval from both the Portland and Milwaukie city councils and Oregon's Metro regional governmental agency in 2008. TriMet approved a $127 million contract to build the bridge in December 2010. Onsite engineering of the TriMet design was handled by the HNTB Corporation with primary contracting performed by Kiewit.
Construction of the bridge was estimated to cost $134.6 million, to be paid for by federal grants, Oregon Lottery revenue and TriMet. Construction of the bridge began in June 2011, with a slow/no wake zone put in place to ensure the safety of river users and bridge construction workers. Beginning in July 2011, an exclusion area around the in-water bridge construction site went into effect. Construction of the bridge itself was scheduled for completion in 2014, followed by several months of work to install tracks and other infrastructure across the bridge.
As part of testing the signaling and overhead catenary systems, MAX and streetcar vehicles first ran across the bridge under their own power on January 21, 2015.
Tilikum Crossing