A 92-year-old double-decker suspension bridge between New York and New Jersey has reached a major milestone in its US$2 billion rehabilitation.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reports that the work on the George Washington Bridge (GWB) is going well. The rehab, named Restoring the George, includes work on the surrounding roads and ramps and this is complete, including seismic retrofit work on two access bridges. The bridge carries more than 50 million eastbound vehicles every year, making it one of the busiest in the world.
New steel installed below the south sidewalk. Credit: PANYNJ
One critical part of Restoring the George is replacement of the vertical suspender cables (link opens in new tab).The north side got 296 new suspenders in 2021; similar work on the south side is half done and will be completed in 2026. The two main cables, each a mile long, have also been rehabilitated. This hanger replacement work is being done by Skanska (link opens in new tab).
Demolishing the 178th Street ramp. Credit: PANYNJ
The Port Authority has already delivered the cycle route on the north side. It is acting as a shared-use path for bike and foot traffic and will be complemented in due course by a pedestrian path on the south side of the bridge.
Work on the GWB’s median barriers, water supply system and steel column fireproofing encasements has all been completed.
Tasks coming up for Restoring the George include: rehab of lower level steel, removal of lead paint and replacement of maintenance platforms.
