Goethals Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goethals Bridge |
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Aerial view of the Goethals Bridge (top left) with the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge at bottom right
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| Coordinates | 40°38′10″N 74°11′49″W / 40.636°N 74.197°W |
| Carries | 6 lanes of  I-278 (3 in each direction), pedestrians, and cyclists |
| Crosses | Arthur Kill |
| Locale | Elizabeth, New Jersey and Howland Hook, Staten Island, New York, United States |
| Maintained by | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| ID number | 3800072 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever bridge (Original) dual-span cable-stayed twin bridge (New span) |
| Total length | 7,109 ft (2,167 m) |
| Width | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Longest span | 672 ft (205 m) |
| Clearance above | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Clearance below | 140 ft (43 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | June 29, 1928 (original span) June 10, 2017 (new eastbound span) May 21, 2018 (new westbound span) |
| Closed | June 9, 2017 (original span) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 82,852 (2016) |
| Toll | (Eastbound only) As of August 29, 2019:
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The Goethals Bridge is a major bridge that connects Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Staten Island, New York. It helps thousands of cars, trucks, and buses travel between these two places every day.
The original bridge was designed by a famous engineer named John Alexander Low Waddell. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey built it. It opened on June 29, 1928. Interestingly, another bridge, the Outerbridge Crossing, opened on the very same day! The bridge is named after George Washington Goethals, who was an important engineer. He helped build the famous Panama Canal.
The Goethals Bridge is one of three bridges that connect Staten Island with New Jersey. The other two are the Outerbridge Crossing and the Bayonne Bridge.
A New Bridge for Today
The original Goethals Bridge was replaced with a brand new one in 2018. The old bridge was taken down soon after the new one opened. The new bridge is actually two separate bridges side-by-side. This design helps traffic flow better.
Modern Design and Features
The new Goethals Bridge uses a cable-stayed design. This means its deck is supported by strong cables that connect directly to tall towers. This design looks very modern and is also very strong.
One great improvement is that the new bridge has special paths for pedestrians and bicycles. The old bridge did not have these paths. Now, people can walk or bike safely across the Arthur Kill waterway.
Images for kids
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The Original Goethals Bridge, seen from Staten Island in 2004
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Bridge partially demolished, January 2018
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A 2007 3D rendering of one proposed replacement bridge
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A diagram comparing the four replacement alternatives and their position relative to the old bridge
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From the new eastbound bridge, looking westward
