| World / USA / New Jersey / Fort Lee, 1 km from center | Coordinates: 40°51'6"N 73°57'10"W |
One of the world's busiest, 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.
The George Washington Bridge provides an escape route form many New Yorkers who use the walking path to run, walk, and bike into New Jersey.
Statistics
Opened to Traffic:
Upper Level: October 25, 1931
Lower Level: August 29, 1962
Bus Station opened: January 17, 1963
Length of Bridge (between anchorages): 4,760 feet
Width of bridge: 119 feet
Width of roadway: 90 feet
Height of tower above water: 604 feet
Water clearance at mid-span: 212 feet
Number of Toll Lanes:* Upper Level: 12
Lower Level: 12
Palisades Interstate Parkway: 7
Cost of original structure: $59,000,000
PA investment as of December 31, 2005: $1,021,300,000
2005 Traffic Volumes
Total eastbound traffic: 53,612,000 vehicles
Total traffic (both directions): 107,224,000 vehicles
Taken from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/bridges/html/gwb.html
Category: authority bridge new york jersey washington river fortification port suspension lee temp names hudson
place comments: |
10 months ago edwardlovis | +1 |
 
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RIP Al Myler, construction supervisor and fellow Golden Knight. ref: http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=40.722311&lon=-74.205732&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2
http://www.bsgoldenknights.org/ | ||||
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