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Since the late 19th century there had been a series of offers to project a bridge for Lisbon. However, it was only in 1929 that the idea was definitely pushed on as Portuguese engineer and entrepreneur António Belo requested a Government concession for a train crossing between Lisbon and Montijo. However, this proposal was put aside in favor of a bridge which was built in Vila Franca de Xira, 35 km north of Lisbon.
In 1953, a new Government commission started working and again recommended, in 1958, to build the bridge, choosing the south anchor point right next to the recently-built monument to Christ the King (Cristo-Rei).

On November 5, 1962, construction began. 45 months later, the bridge was inaugurated on August 6, 1966.

At the time of its completion, the bridge had the longest suspended span and the longest main span in Continental Europe, the world's longest continuous truss, and the world's deepest bridge foundation. It was the fifth largest suspension bridge in the world, the largest outside the USA. Today, it is the 17th largest suspension bridge in the world.

The 25 de Abril Bridge is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA and not just because it was built by the same company. The American Society of Civil Engineers says that "Like its sister bridge, the Golden Gate in San Francisco, the Tagus River Bridge is located in an area with a long history of earthquakes" and seismic data had to be taken into account in its construction.

Carnation Revolution in 1974, the bridge was renamed the 25 de Abril Bridge, the day the revolution had occurred.