All 592 of the suspender ropes on the George Washington Bridge are to be replaced as part of a US$1.03bn (£623m) project approved this week by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
The project on the 82-year-old suspension bridge will also rehabilitate all of the span’s main cables, replace the walkways and provide improved pedestrian and bicycle access ramps.
“The George Washington Bridge is a national asset and the world’s busiest bridge, and the Port Authority is committed to making needed investments that ensure this vital transportation artery for the region thrives for another 100 years,” said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye.
Construction is expected to result in 4,900 jobs, US$365 million in wages and US$1.7bn in economic activity for the region.
As part of the project, construction crews will also include smart technology to monitor the condition of the new suspender ropes and will fit a dehumidification system on the main cables.