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George Washington Bridge
The world's largest free-flying American flag hangs from the bridge's New Jersey tower on holidays.
When the George Washington Bridge first opened to traffic on October 25, 1931, its 3,500-foot main suspended span became the longest in the world, nearly doubling the previous record of 1,850 feet held by the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. The bridge crosses the Hudson River and connects Manhattan with Fort Lee, New Jersey.

The George Washington Bridge was designed by Othmar H. Ammann, who at the time was the Chief Engineer of the New York Port Authority. It was the first of several major long-span bridges that Ammann designed in New York City, including the Bayonne Bridge (1931), Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge (1936), Bronx-Whitestone Bridge (1939), Throgs Neck Bridge (1961), and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (1964).

One of the busiest bridges in the world, the George Washington Bridge originally carried six lanes of traffic when it opened in 1931 and added two more lanes to the center median in 1946. Ammann's original design anticipated the addition of a second deck to the bridge at a later date to accommodate a growth in traffic volumes. The lower level was eventually added in 1962, increasing the bridge's capacity by 75 percent. The George Washington Bridge is the only suspension bridge in the world with 14 lanes.

Ironically the bridge's exposed steel towers, one of its most identifiable features, were never part of the original design. Cost cutting measures taken during the Great Depression eliminated a plan to encase the bridge's towers in concrete and granite. The Little Red Lighthouse, made famous in the 1942 children's book is located near the base of the Manhattan tower of the George Washington Bridge. On several holidays during the year the world's largest free-flying American flag, 90 feet in length, hangs from the bridge's New Jersey tower.

George Washington Bridge National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Plaque
A bronze plaque designating the George Washington Bridge as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark was unveiled on October 24, 1981.

The George Washington Bridge is an important link in the New York City regional highway system, carrying Interstate 95 and US Routes 1 and 9 across the Hudson River. The bridge also lies near the termini of Interstate 80 and the Palisades Interstate Parkway in New Jersey and connects with the Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan.

The 50th Anniversary of the dedication of the George Washington Bridge was celebrated on October 24, 1981. On this day, a bronze plaque was presented to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, signifying designation of the magnificent bridge by the ASCE National Board of Direction as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

 
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