By the mid-1960s a need for another road bridge across the Sava was apparent as the only bridge, built in 1956, was
Branko's Bridge. The idea behind the new bridge was to connect parts of the
Brotherhood and Unity Highway. The most distinguished engineers were summoned to choose the best project. Between the projects submitted on the
architectural design competition, a design by Milan Đurić was selected. Construction of the bridge began in 1966, and it was built by the companies Mostogradnja and Goša. It was finished in 4 years. The testing of the bridge was directly broadcast by the
Radio Television Belgrade. Citizens joked, saying that the truck drivers who tested the bridge should be equipped with the
diving suits.
2010–2011 reconstruction In 2004, Minister for construction
Dragoslav Šumarac warned that the bridge, especially the steel construction, is in a bad shape and that immediate reconstruction is needed. As a result of the reconstruction, the traffic congestion was massive and regular, with jams stretching all the way to the
Autokomanda and
Dušanovac neighborhoods. Just prior to the reconstruction, the city has expanded the
Savska street, which is connected to the Gazela, and during the works, the city government pleaded to drivers to use other bridges and even the city's commuter rail
Beovoz was free of charge during that time. But the drivers continued using the partially closed Gazela nevertheless, causing jams. ==Characteristics==