The two-level George Washington Bridge (GWB) crosses the
Hudson River between upper Manhattan (West 178th Street)
and Fort Lee, New Jersey and forms part of Interstate Highway
I-95.
This suspension bridge was designed by Othmar H. Ammann
who was the Port Authority's Chief Engineer during that
time. Ground was broken for the original six-lane bridge
in October 1927. The Port Authority opened the bridge to
traffic on October 25, 1931.(The Building of the Bridge:
A Gallery of Photographs) In 1946, two additional lanes
were provided on the upper level.
The lower level was opened on August 29, 1962. This increased
the capacity of the bridge by 75 percent, making the GWB
the world's only 14-lane suspension bridge, and it is now
one of the world's busiest bridges. Mr. Ammann also served
as a consultant on the addition of the lower level. In 1981,
the George Washington Bridge was designated a National Historic
Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil
Engineers.
The George Washington Bridge is home to the world's largest
free-flying American flag. The flag, which is located under
the upper arch of the New Jersey tower, drapes vertically
for 90 feet and flies freely, responding to breezes from
the Hudson River or Palisades. The flag's stripes are approximately
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, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial
Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day,
and Veterans Day.
In New Jersey, the roadways leading to the bridge provide
maximum flexibility permitting motorists to use either the
upper or lower level. Two four-lane approach and departure
roadways connect to the upper level, with connections to
and from the lower level via two three-lane tunnels through
the Palisades.
The New Jersey approach system provides connections between
both levels of the bridge and highways US-1, US-9W, US-46,
NJ-4, I-80, I-95 and the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
The twelve-lane Trans-Manhattan Expressway, extending eastward
from the bridge to the Harlem River between 178th and 179th
Streets, connects both levels of the bridge with Amsterdam
Avenue, the Harlem River Drive and the 181st Street Bridge
over the Harlem River. The Expressway connects directly
with the Alexander Hamilton Bridge, which spans the Harlem
River as part of the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95), and
the Major Deegan Expressway (I-87). Both the upper and lower
levels connect to the Henry Hudson Parkway and Riverside
Drive on the West Side of Manhattan. Sidewalks are available
to the general public on both the north and south sides
of the bridge. In New Jersey, the sidewalk entrances are
located on Hudson Terrace in Fort Lee. In New York, the
south sidewalk is located near the corner of 178th Street
and Cabrini Boulevard. The north sidewalk is located near
the corner of 179th Street and Cabrini Boulevard.
In 2000, an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) was
implemented at the George Washington Bridge. The system
uses automated incident detection information to decrease
incident response and removal times. More than 30 state-of-the-art
electronic variable message signs provide real-time decision
making information directly to motorists on the roadways
leading to the bridge. Also included are fully coordinated
closed-circuit television cameras, and customer emergency
call boxes.
