Photos: On this day – October 24,1931 – the George Washington Bridge is officially opened

Posted Oct 24, 2012

On this day – October 24,1931 – the George Washington Bridge is officially opened. Groundbreaking for the new bridge began in October 1927, a project of the Port of New York Authority. Its chief engineer was Othmar Ammann, with Cass Gilbert as architect. When construction started the estimated cost of the bridge was $75,000,000. The bridge was dedicated on October 24, 1931, and opened to traffic the following day.

When it opened in 1931, the bridge surpassed the Ambassador Bridge for the longest main span in the world. At 3,500 feet (1,100 m), it nearly doubled the previous record of 1,850 feet (560 m). It held this title until the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. The total length of the bridge is 4,760 feet (1,450 m).

As originally built, the bridge offered six lanes of traffic, but in 1946, two additional lanes were provided on what is now the upper level. A second, lower deck, which had been anticipated in Ammann’s original plans, was approved by Lt Col Joseph R McCammon, US Army Corps of Engineers, opening to the public on August 29, 1962.This lower level has been waggishly nicknamed “Martha”. The additional deck increased the capacity of the bridge by 75 percent, making the George Washington Bridge the world’s only 14-lane suspension bridge, providing eight lanes on the upper level and six on the lower deck.

The original design for the towers of the bridge called for them to be encased in concrete and granite. However, because of cost considerations during the Great Depression and favorable aesthetic critiques of the bare steel towers, this was never done. The exposed steel towers, with their distinctive criss-crossed bracing, have become one of the bridge’s most identifiable characteristics.

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Official motorcades start across the George Washington Bridge during the dedication ceremonies in New York City on Oct. 24, 1931. The world's longest suspension bridge, costing $60 million, links New York with New Jersey. (AP Photo)
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This photo shows the heavy traffic on the George Washington Bridge, one day after it officially opened, at the New York City entrance on Oct. 25, 1931. In its first 12 hours of toll operation, more than 40,000 autos and 30,000 pedestrians passed over the new bridge, which connects New Jersey to Manhattan. (AP Photo)
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Three New Jersey routes converge at the Ft. Lee Plaza roadway where people are gathered for dedication ceremonies of the George Washington Bridge on Oct. 24, 1931. The new Hudson River bridge, which connects New Jersey and New York City, will open to traffic on Oct. 25. (AP Photo)
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Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York speaking at the opening ceremonies of the George Washington Bridge, connecting upper Manhattan to New Jersey, October 24, 1931. (AP Photo)
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The George Washington Bridge is formally dedicated by Gov. Morgan F. Larson of New Jersey, left, and Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York, right, as they severe the ribbon stretched across the bridge in New York City on Oct. 24, 1931. The world's longest suspension bridge cost $60,000,000 and links New York City and New Jersey. (AP Photo)
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A crowd gathers during the opening day ceremonies of the George Washington Bridge in New York City on Oct. 24, 1931. The longest suspension bridge, costing $60 million, links New York with New Jersey. (AP Photo)
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The main cable of the George Washington Bridge is being layed as construction of the suspension bridge connecting New York and New Jersey continues on Oct. 23, 1929. (AP Photo)
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Construction workers apply a coat of protective covering on the huge cable supports of the George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River, in New York City, June 12, 1935. (AP Photo)
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In this Dec. 22, 1936, Works Progress Administration photo provided by the New York City Municipal Archives, a man looks at the Hudson River from the New York tower of the George Washington Bridge. Over 870,000 photos from an archive that exceeds 2.2 million images have been scanned and made available online, for the first time giving a global audience a view of a rich collection that documents New York City life. (AP Photo/New York City Municipal Archives, WPA Federal Writers' Project, Jack Rosenzwieg) MANDATORY
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This is a view of the Manhattan borough of New York, looking northwest, as seen from the observation deck of the Empire State Building, Sept. 29, 1938. At left is the Hudson River, and background center is Central Park. Between the river and the park is the Upper West Side. At background left is the George Washington Bridge, crossing over to New Jersey. (AP Photo/John Rooney)
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One of the largest span bridges in the world takes part in a test blackout. Looking across the Hudson River from Fort Lee, New Jersey to upper Manhattan is the George Washington Bridge in New York, May 7, 1942. That’s the Will Rogers Memorial Beacon on the far tower. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)
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Using a newly developed camera which swings in an arc from horizon to horizon, technicians of the Boston University Research Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force made this photo of Manhattan Island and the greater New York City area at a height of 10,000 feet on July 29, 1949. The picture takes in a 260-mile sweep from Northern horizon, top, to Southern horizon, bottom. An ordinary camera at this height would have only photographed about half of Central Park, which is the large rectangle at center. The Hudson River is at left with the George Washington Bridge at top left. The Bronx lies beyond the Harlem River at upper right, with Long Island Sound at top right. The East River runs along the right. Staten Island is at lower left and Brooklyn is at lower right. (AP Photo)
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After hours of indoor practice, dancers from a New Jersey nightclub come outdoors to carry on their rehearsal in the spring air on the Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge, April 24, 1951. In the background is the bridge and the view of Manhattan looking north up the Hudson River, as they go through their routine on the Palisades Cliffs adjacent to the club, Bill Miller’s Rendezvous, in preparation for the opening next month. (AP Photo/Robert Kradin)
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The New Jersey Turnpike crosses the Passaic River and underpasses the Pulaski Skyway in Newark, N.J., as seen in this 1952 aerial view. In upper right hand section is the Hackensack River leading northward to connections with the Lincoln Tunnel and George Washington Bridge. (AP Photo)
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Three red double-decker London buses arrive at the New Jersey side of the George Washington bridge, March 24, 1952 after leaving New York for the start of their 8,000-mile tour of the United States. (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano)
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Sections of the 100-ton monument depicting the historic flag-raising atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, by U.S. Marines during World War II, roll across the George Washington Bridge from New York to New Jersey, en route to Arlington, Va., Sept. 2, 1954. It was modeled after the famed AP photograph by Joe Rosenthal, and sculpted by Felix de Weldon. (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano)
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Two-way traffic crosses the multi-laned George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River to link New York and New Jersey on Oct. 27, 1955. The picture was taken from the New York side of the bridge and shows New Jersey in the background. (AP Photo/John Lent)
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Water is poured onto blaze in a former motion picture studio in Fort Lee, N.J., Nov. 23, 1958. The studio was once a center for eastern movie making but recently was used to store TV and theatrical scenery. The studio, made up of three buildings, was only a few blocks from the New Jersey side of the George Washington bridge, and the smoke was visible in Manhattan. (AP Photo)
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Two engineers look up at a huge work platform which has been raised into place on the George Washington Bridge in New York, June 4, 1959. It will serve as the base from which the construction of a six-lane lower deck can be done without interfering with traffic on the span which crosses the Hudson River. (AP Photo)
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Dr. Pier Luigi Nervi, right, Italian Architect, walks with John M. Kyle, second from right, chief engineer of the Port of New York Authority, during an inspection visit at the site of the projected bus terminal at the Manhattan end of the George Washington Bridge,in New York April 12, 1961. Dr. Nervi designed the unique roof that will cover the 400 by 185 foot structure. The two-block-long facility, scheduled for operation the summer of 1962, is expected to smooth the way for New Jersey commuters and shorten the duration of their trips between home and office. (AP Photo/ Jack Harris)
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Swiss engineer Othmar H. Ammann poses in front of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York in this undated photo. Ammann, who lived in the USA, constructed the Verrazano Narrows suspension bridge as well as the George Washington bridge and the Bayonne bridge in New York. (AP Photo) ---
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Three men with binoculars viewing operation sail activity from New Jersey’s Englewood Cliffs on the palisades near the George Washington Bridge Saturday, July 3, 1976. This is directly across from New York’s borough of Manhattan, separated by the Hudson River. (AP Photo/ETA)
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USS Nautilus passes under the George Washington Bridge in 1956, when the bridge only had a single deck
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George Washington Bridge, spanning the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey.
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George Washington Bridge, spanning the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey, circa 1985
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Workers on the New York side of the George Washington Bridge climb the bridge's cables to free them of ice Thursday, March 8, 2001. Falling chunks of melting ice from a storm earlier in the week caused traffic between New York and New Jersey to be restricted from the upper roadways of the bridge. (AP Photo/Shawn Baldwin)
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The George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River between Manhattan and New Jersey, is shown at night in this undated photo. (AP Photo)
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Looking east at the George Washington Bridge, spanning the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey. View from top of New Jersey Tower to New York Tower.
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The George Washington Bridge, which connects upper Manhattan in New York to New Jersey, is seen, shot through a red filter, 1971. (AP Photo)
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A large American Flag flies from the George Washington Bridge in this helicopter view Saturday, July 3, 1976. The U.S. guided missile cruiser Mainwright prepares to move under the span in the Hudson River in Operation Sail preliminaries. (AP Photo0
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People hold hands on the pedestrian walkway of the George Washington Bridge which links Manhattan Island with New Jersey across the Hudson River during Hands Across America Sunday, May 25, 1986. (AP Photo/Mario Cabrera)
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The German sailing ship Alexander von Humboldt, with its characteristic green sails, passes the George Washington Bridge on the Hudson River during Operation Sail celebrating the Columbus Quincentennial in New York City on July 4, 1992. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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The automated toll booth collection system E-Z Pass was launched Monday, July 28, 1997, at the George Washington Bridge toll booth in Fort Lee, N.J. This is the first time an automated system for collecting tolls was used in the bridge's 66 year history. 7,400 motorists who used the new system were able to use E-Z Pass only lanes as well as all other lanes. (AP Photo/Michael Sypniewski)
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Cars approach the toll booth at the George Washington bridge Friday, Jan. 4, 2008 in Fort Lee, N.J. .Millions of drivers will pay $2 more to get into New York City, and commuter train riders will pay an extra 25 cents in hikes announced Friday by transit officials trying to keep up with post-Sept. 11 expenses. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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Carrying an umbrella, a pedestrian walks past New York's George Washington Bridge, Thursday, March 22, 2001. Although spring has officially arrived, New Yorkers are still bundled up as low temperatures, high winds, and rain have hounded the city for the past two days. More poor weather is expected Friday. (AP Photo/Matt Moyer)
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Upper New York City and the George Washington Bridge in 2003 from a flight to London from Newark
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Full view of the George Washington Bridge from the New York side of the Hudson River.
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From the Upper West Side.
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Aerial view of GWB (2010)
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The George Washington Bridge from Riverside Drive
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The George Washington bridge is shrouded in a dense fog during the morning rush hour Monday, Dec. 11, 2000, in Fort Lee, N.J. (AP Photo/Mitch Jacobson)
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The George Washington Bridge spans the Hudson River in this northward view from the "Top of the Rock" observation deck atop the General Electric Building in New York's Rockefeller Center, Friday, Oct. 28, 2005. The observatory was an original feature of the 70-story skyscraper when the building opened in 1933, but it was closed in 1986. It is scheduled to reopen to the public Tuesday Nov. 1, 2005. Central Park is seen in the right foreground, with Central Park West and Manhattan's Upper West Side dominating the lower half of the photo. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
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A steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center is transported across the George Washington Bridge on its way to Coatesville, Penn., as the New York City skyline stands in the background Wednesday April 14, 2010. A mile-long convoy of 28 tractor trailers carried 500 tons of steel from the twin towers to become the centerpiece of a planned National Iron and Steel Museum in Coatsville, Penn., where the steel was created 41 years ago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Steel beams salvaged form the World Trade Center are transported across the George Washington Bridge in New York, foreground, on their way to Coatesville, Penn., Wednesday April 14, 2010. A mile-long convoy of 28 tractor trailers carried 500 tons of steel from the twin towers to become the centerpiece of a planned National Iron and Steel Museum in Coatsville, Penn., where the steel was created 41 years ago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Two women walk at Palisades Interstate Park as the sun sets over the George Washington Bridge on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Fort Lee, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Under George Washington Bridge's Manhattan-side pillar
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The main span of the George Washington Bridge, looking west from Manhattan.
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George Washington Bridge, spanning the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey. View from top of New Jersey Tower to New York Tower.
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George Washington Bridge, spanning the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey. New York Tower