World’s Busiest Bridge Gets Massive Upgrade After 7 Years of Work

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has finished a seven-year project to replace all 592 original steel suspender ropes on the George Washington Bridge, the busiest bridge in the world. This marks a major milestone in the agency’s larger $2 billion rehabilitation program, Restoring the George, aimed at keeping the nearly 100-year-old bridge safe for the next century.

The steel suspender ropes, which connect the bridge deck to the main cables, had been in place since the bridge first opened in 1931. Replacing them wasn’t just a swap-out job — it took years of careful planning and construction work, all while keeping the bridge open to traffic the entire time.

“Replacing all 592 suspender ropes on the George Washington Bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering as we work to rehabilitate and renew nearly every major component of the world’s busiest bridge,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “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 for work, commuting or travel.”

The rope replacement was the largest and most complicated part of the full bridge rehab. Work started in 2018 and required crews to install temporary ropes to support the bridge’s weight while the old ropes were removed and new ones were attached. The ropes ranged from 38 to 674 feet long, with the longest near the towers.

Along the way, the bridge’s main cables—which contain over 26,000 wires each—were also recoated and rewrapped, and a new moisture-control system was added to protect them from future corrosion.

This project also sets the stage for improved pedestrian and bike access on the bridge. With the ropes replaced, work can now move forward on the south sidewalk, which has been closed since 2023. Once reopened, the north sidewalk will be reserved for bikes, while the south will be for walkers.

“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,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Replacing the suspender ropes is the centerpiece of our complete rehabilitation of this bridge, and this incredible engineering achievement will ensure that it remains so for ge…