The idea of building the bridge had begun after the construction of the Friendship Bridge 1965, between Brazil and Paraguay. The Fraternity Bridge's construction started on January 13, 1982, and was officially inaugurated on November 29, 1985, and named after Brazilian politician Tancredo Neves.
The bridge is 489 metres (1,604 feet) long, 16.5 metres (54 feet) wide and 70 metres (230 feet) high at its highest point.