The quarter-way mark has been passed on a project to fit new hangers – also known as suspender ropes - to the George Washington Bridge, with 150 of the 592 hangers now replaced.
Replacement of the suspender ropes is one of 11 projects in the US$1.92bn 'Restoring the George' programme, a 10-year initiative to overhaul the 88-year-old bridge. The programme also includes rehabilitation of the four main cables. Skanska was awarded a US$452 million contract in late 2017 for the work on the bridge and its approach structures (link opens in new tab).
Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton said: “The George Washington Bridge was built 88 years ago, and we are investing nearly $2 billion so the bridge will last another century. This investment will also reduce the frequency of urgent maintenance repairs. The suspender rope replacement programme, which is a key element in the bridge’s restoration, is on-time and on-budget as it marks a significant milestone today completing the replacement of its 150th suspender rope.”
Suspension rope replacement began on the north side of the George Washington Bridge in September 2018. As part of that process, the bridge’s main cable is inspected, cleaned and individual strands repaired as required. Once new suspender ropes are in place, acoustical monitoring and dehumidification systems are installed on the main cables. The programme to replace the suspender ropes and rehabilitation of the main cables also includes other work such as the replacement of upper level sidewalks, access ramp improvements and installation of a new LED lighting system.
