Earlier this month, workers completed a monumental task on the George Washington Bridge by replacing the final steel rope in the span’s suspension system. This marks the culmination of a seven-year project to replace all 592 suspender ropes as part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $2 billion Restoring the George program.

Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority, shared the significance of the achievement in a press release: “The George Washington Bridge is the busiest bridge in the world and an essential link in this region’s transportation network as a critical anchor of the regional economy. Replacing the suspender ropes is the centerpiece of our complete rehabilitation of this bridge.”

This ambitious effort has involved a delicate balance of maintaining bridge operations while replacing the original suspender ropes—work that required careful planning and expertise, according to Kevin O’Toole, Port Authority chairman. “Replacing all 592 suspender ropes on the George Washington Bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering,” O’Toole stated. “Over seven years, our teams diligently planned and worked with precision and perseverance to ensure the bridge remains safe and reliable for millions who depend on it.”

The suspender ropes, ranging from 38 feet to 674 feet in length, have been systematically swapped out across the bridge’s span. For each section, temporary ropes were secured to support the bridge’s weight before the old ropes were removed and replaced.

Along with replacing the suspender ropes, workers rehabilitated the bridge’s main cables by recoating and rewrapping the 26,474 steel wires in each cable, followed by the addition of elastomeric wraps and a dehumidification system to prevent corrosion and extend the lifespan of the cables.

With the suspender rope replacement complete, the Port Authority will now turn its attention to reopening the south sidewalk, which was closed in 2023 for renovation. The revamped sidewalk, set to open in 2026, will feature improved accessibility, a new crosswalk at Hudson Terrace, entry plazas, and a 14-foot-wide accessible ramp. The south sidewalk will be dedicated to pedestrians, while cyclists will continue using the north path.

Additionally, the north sidewalk reopened in February 2023, featuring similar upgrades including enhanced accessibility, safety lighting, and open-air viewing platforms.

The successful completion of the suspender rope replacement is just one piece of the Restoring the George initiative, which includes 11 major projects set to conclude by 2030. Ongoing work under the initiative includes the rehabilitation of the 178th and 179th street ramps, replacement of roadway finger joints, and the reconstruction of bridges and pavement along key sections of the bridge.

With the vast scale of the Restoring the George program, the Port Authority is ensuring the continued functionality and safety of the iconic bridge for generations to come.

Originally reported by Sebastian Obando in Construction Dive.