George Washington Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Washington Bridge |
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The bridge, looking east from Fort Lee toward Upper Manhattan.
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| Coordinates | 40°51′07″N 73°57′07″W / 40.852°N 73.952°W |
| Carries |
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| Crosses | Hudson River |
| Locale | Fort Lee, New Jersey, and New York City (Washington Heights, Manhattan), New York, United States |
| Other name(s) |
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| Maintained by | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Double-decked suspension bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 4,760 ft (1,450 m)/> |
| Width | 119 ft (36 m) |
| Height | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Longest span | 3,500 ft (1,067 m) |
| Clearance above | 14 ft (4.3 m) (upper level), 13.5 ft (4.1 m) (lower level) |
| Clearance below | 212 ft (65 m) at mid-span |
| History | |
| Designer | Othmar Ammann (chief engineer) Edward W. Stearns (assistant chief engineer) Allston Dana (design engineer) Cass Gilbert (architect) Montgomery Case (construction engineer) |
| Construction begin | September 21, 1927 (bridge construction) June 2, 1959 (lower level) |
| Opened | October 24, 1931 (upper level) August 29, 1962 (lower level) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 289,827 (2016) |
| Toll | (Eastbound only) As of August 29, 2019:
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The George Washington Bridge is a huge suspension bridge that stretches across the Hudson River. It connects New York City, New York to Fort Lee, New Jersey. This amazing bridge is 4,750 feet long and was designed by Othmar H. Ammann. Construction started in 1927, and the bridge opened in 1931. Later, a second level was added in 1962 to help with traffic. There are also special paths for people to walk or bike across the bridge.
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Building the George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge was a massive project. Building began on October 21, 1927. It took four years to complete the main structure. The bridge officially opened to traffic on October 25, 1931. The total cost to build it was about $59 million.
A Second Level for More Traffic
As more and more cars used the bridge, it became very busy. To help with the traffic, a second level was added below the main one. This lower level opened to traffic on August 29, 1962. This made the bridge even more useful for connecting New York and New Jersey.
How Big Is the Bridge?
The main part of the bridge, called the main span, is 3,500 ft (1,067 m) long. The entire bridge is 4,760 ft (1,451 m) long. It is also 119 ft (36 m) wide.
Strong Suspension Cables
The bridge hangs from four giant cables. Each of these cables is incredibly heavy, weighing 28,450 tons. Each cable is made from 26,474 individual wires twisted together. If you stretched out all the wire from these four cables, it would be 107,000 mi (172,200 km) long! That's enough wire to go around the Earth more than four times.
Why This Location?
The bridge's designer, Othmar Ammann, chose this spot for a good reason. The Hudson River is narrower here, which made it easier to build a long bridge. Also, the land on both sides of the river is high. This meant the bridge could be built tall enough for ships to pass underneath without needing very long ramps leading up to it.
Walking and Biking Across
The George Washington Bridge isn't just for cars. It has walkways on both its north and south sides. These paths are perfect for pedestrians and bicyclists. They offer amazing views of the Hudson River, New York City, and New Jersey.
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Aerial view showing situation atop Palisades Sill
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View of New York City and New Jersey from south walkway
Images for kids
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The bridge, looking south at sunset from the New York side of the Hudson River
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View of the suspension towers from the upper deck
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The George Washington Bridge on the New Jersey side during Memorial Day
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George Washington Bridge looking east from Fort Lee
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The Manhattan suspension tower, seen from below
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View of the bridge looking north from Edgewater, New Jersey, early 1931
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The cover of the November 1931 edition of the Jester, the humor magazine at Columbia University, celebrating the opening of the George Washington Bridge
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Lower deck
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Ramps on the New York side, seen in 1973
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The upper-level toll plaza with heavy traffic congestion
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Southern sidewalk
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The bridge seen in 1978
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See also
In Spanish: Puente George Washington para niños
