The George Washington Bridge, opened in 1931, became a marvel of engineering and remains an essential connection between New York and New Jersey. Traversed more than 100 million times each year, it is the busiest bridge in the world. When completed, its 3,500-foot suspension span was the longest in the world, nearly twice the span of any previous bridge, and its success inspired even more ambitious spans. With 14 lanes of travel above the Hudson River, it became a highway in the sky. At the turn of the 20th century, growing modern transportation needs led several visionaries to propose ways to cross the Hudson River from Manhattan, and in 1924 the winning plan was presented by Othmar Hermann Ammann, the first chief engineer for the Port of New York Authority. Established in 1921 to promote and protect the commerce of New York and New Jersey's common port, the Port Authority in its first decade opened four bridges, established a funding source for new infrastructure, and took responsibility for the Holland Tunnel. Heavily traveled and exposed to the elements, the bridge requires constant upkeep, and the Port Authority continues to oversee maintenance, inspections, and renovations for the future of this National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and its many passengers.
