Bear Mountain Bridge was the first highway bridge to span the Hudson River south of Albany. It was begun March 24th 1923 and opened Nov. 27th 1924. Its builders were honored for their thought, labor, and loyalty in constructing the bridge and highway. The bridge had a total length of 2257 ft., towers 355 ft. high, cables 18 ins. in diameter, a suspended span 1632 ft. long, a clear height above the river of 153 ft., and 7252 wires in each cable.