Major Repairs Move Forward on George Washington Bridge as $2 Billion Project Enters Final Stretch

By Y.M. Lowy

Drivers who cross the George Washington Bridge every day are now seeing the next phase of a massive restoration effort that has been quietly underway for years. Last week, work began on the Center Avenue overpass in Fort Lee as part of the Port Authority’s $2 billion “Restoring the George” program, a top-to-bottom rehabilitation of the world’s busiest bridge.

With hundreds of thousands of vehicles using the bridge daily, shutting it down was never an option. Crews have been carrying out repairs in tight windows, often working overnight or in small sections, reopening lanes as quickly as possible to avoid major traffic disruptions.

The restoration program is now in its later stages, with the goal is to complete the work well before the bridge’s 100th anniversary in 2031. The project includes 11 major construction efforts designed to fully renew the nearly century-old structure while keeping traffic moving.

One of the most complex parts of the work involved replacing all 592 suspender ropes, the vertical cables that help hold up the roadway. Each rope had to be swapped one at a time, with temporary supports installed before the old rope was removed, ensuring the bridge was always fully supported.

Crews have also been rebuilding aging ramps that connect the bridge to 178th and 179th Streets and to the bus station above the roadway. That work is nearing completion and is expected to wrap up by the fall.

Drivers may recognize the familiar “click-clack” sound under their tires while crossing the bridge. Those sounds come from steel finger joints, which allow the bridge to expand in summer heat and contract in winter cold. Rehabilitation of that steel has largely been completed, along with the replacement of 32 massive deck panels that were built off-site and installed quickly to limit traffic disruptions.

Additional upgrades include new steel structures beneath the bridge towers to support modern LED signage, bringing the nearly 100-year-old bridge in line with current safety and technology standards.

For the many local drivers who rely on the George Washington Bridge daily, the work means occasional construction zones now, with the promise of a safer and stronger bridge for decades to come.