A project to replace all of the George Washington Bridge’s original steel suspender ropes is more than 95 percent complete, officials with the New York and New Jersey Port Authority said.
In an update on the $2 billion “Restoring the George,” the Port Authority said just two dozen of the bridge’s 592 steel suspender ropes had yet to be replaced. The replacement of the ropes that extend from the bridge’s four main cables and hold up the bridge’s two roadway levels is the largest part of the project to rehabilitate the world’s busiest vehicular bridge. Replacement of the four main cables and the suspender ropes is essential to getting the bridge to a state of good repair, officials said.
“The upkeep of the world’s busiest bridge requires constant vigilance and major investment to ensure the George Washington Bridge can safely and reliably connect people and commerce at the center of this region’s economic engine,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “Our Restoring the George program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on the feat of engineering that connected the region 93 years ago, and to adapt the bridge to new and modern ways of commuting and sharing use beyond its original design.”
The suspender rope replacement project includes the construction of a newly built sidewalk on the bridge’s south side. Inspecting and cleaning the main cables, as well as replacing each suspender rope on the bridge’s northside, was completed in 2022. Once the new suspender ropes were in place and the main cable rehabilitation was done, the project saw the installation of high tech acoustical monitoring and dehumidification systems on the main cables. Started in September 2018, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The project also afforded the Port Authority the opportunity to build a new 1.5-mile long sidewalk, widening known chokepoints around the bridge’s towers and adding enhanced security and safety features. The new sidewalk will also replace more than 170 steps with a gentler sloping, allowing accessible approaches to the paths for seamless connection to adjacent city streets. The previous stairs had inhibited direct bike access and prevented users with mobility challenges from reaching the bridge, officials said.
“Our $2 billion Restoring the George program to overhaul the George Washington Bridge is essential to its future and continued ability to connect the region,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “For the first time since this 93-year-old bridge was built, we are replacing or upgrading its original major components with modern technology and best-in-class materials. As the stewards of this critical link in our regional transportation network, we are investing billions of dollars and applying top industry engineering expertise to ensure the George Washington Bridge can safely serve the region for another hundred years.”