George Washington Bridge

The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Hudson River, connecting the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan Island in New York City to Fort Lee, New Jersey. The pillar on the Manhattan side of the bridge stands on Jeffery’s Hook, above the Little Red Lighthouse. In 2004 the bridge traffic was 108,404,000 vehicles.

History

Its chief engineer was Othmar Ammann. Construction of the bridge began in September 1927, a project of the Port of New York Authority. It was dedicated on October 24, 1931 and opened to traffic the following day. Initially named the "Hudson River Bridge," the George Washington Bridge is named in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. The Bridge is near the sites of Fort Washington (on the New York side) and Fort Lee (in New Jersey) which were fortified positions used by General Washington and his American forces in his unsuccessful attempt to deter the British occupation of New York City in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War.

Related Topics:
Othmar Ammann - September - 1927 - Port of New York Authority - October 24 - 1931 - George Washington - United States of America - Fort Washington - British - 1776 - American Revolutionary War

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When it opened, the bridge had the longest main span in the world; at 1067 m (3500 ft), it nearly doubled the previous record of 564 m (1850 ft), which had been held by the Ambassador Bridge. (The record has since been exceeded numerous times.) The total length of the bridge is 1451 m (4760 ft).

Related Topics:
Longest main span in the world - Ambassador Bridge

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As built, the GWB offered six lanes of traffic, but in 1946, two additional lanes were provided on what is now the upper level. The bridge was originally constructed with only a single deck, but a second, lower deck, which had been anticipated in its design, was added in 1962, opening to the public on August 29. This increased the capacity of the bridge by 75 percent, making the GWB the world's only 14-lane suspension bridge, with eight lanes on the upper level and six on the lower deck. It was also originally planned that the towers of the bridge would be encased in concrete and granite. However, due to cost and favorable aesthetic critiques of the bare steel towers, this was never done.

Related Topics:
1946 - 1962 - August 29

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Traffic reporters often refer to the bridge simply as "the GW" or "GWB."

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Following the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington, the government prohibited people from taking photographs on the premises of the bridge due to the fear that terrorist groups might study any potential photographs in order to plot a terrorist attack on the bridge.

Related Topics:
September 11th attacks - Photographs

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The George Washington Bridge is home to the world's largest free-flying American flag. The flag, located under the upper arch of the New Jersey tower, drapes vertically for 90 feet. The flag's stripes are about 5 feet wide and the stars measure about 4 feet in diameter. Weather permitting, the flag is flown on the following eight holidays: Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.

Related Topics:
American flag - Martin Luther King Day - Presidents' Day - Memorial Day - Flag Day - Independence Day - Labor Day - Columbus Day - Veterans Day

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