George Washington Bridge
The world’s longest span until the Golden Gate, and the start of a 358-mile trail
The story
Before you is the George Washington Bridge. Construction began right here in Fort Lee on September 21, 1927. The chief engineer was Othmar Ammann. The bridge opened on October 25, 1931, eight months ahead of schedule. Its main span is 3,500 feet. Until the Golden Gate Bridge opened in San Francisco in 1937, it was the longest span in the world. The towers rise 604 feet above the water. At first they were to be encased in concrete and granite, like the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge. But the steel could stand on its own, and in 1929 the facing was put off to save money. So the towers stayed an open lattice of steel. In 1962 a second, lower deck opened. Today it is the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world: more than 101 million vehicles crossed it in 2025. The Long Path starts here too. Its aqua markers lead north toward the Adirondacks: 358 miles in all.
Visiting
To walk across the bridge, use the south path: it is for pedestrians. From midnight to 4:45 a.m., one path is closed, and pedestrians share the other with cyclists. To continue north, follow the aqua markers of the Long Path.
On the trail
- The Palisades: Carpenter’s Loop — 2.8 miles (4.5 km), loop, about 1.5 h
Sources
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — the making of the George Washington Bridge: September 21, 1927 to October 25, 1931, towers 604 feet high
- Wikipedia (EN) — George Washington Bridge
- New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — The Long Path: 358 miles from the George Washington Bridge
- Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — Trails & Hiking: Carpenter’s Loop (5.5 miles, 2.5 hours, can be shortened by about half), the Long Path and the Shore Trail, Carpenter’s Trail (320-foot climb), buses
- Streetsblog NYC — the George Washington Bridge south path opens to pedestrians (October 16, 2026)
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