Washington Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Washington Bridge carries six lanes of traffic (plus sidewalks on both sides) over the Harlem River
in New York City
between the boroughs of Manhattan
and the Bronx
, connecting 181st Street
and Amsterdam Avenue
in the Washington Heights
section of Manhattan to University Avenue in the Morris Heights
section of the Bronx. Ramps at either end of the bridge connect to the Trans-Manhattan Expressway
and the Cross-Bronx Expressway
. The bridge is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation
. It once carried U.S. Route 1, which now travels over the Alexander Hamilton Bridge
.
The total length of the bridge, including approaches, is 2375 feet (723.9 m). The parallel main spans of the steel arch bridge stretch 510 feet (155.4 m) over the Harlem River, providing 134 feet (40.8 m) of vertical clearance and 354 feet (107.9 m) of horizontal clearance. The tidal maximum (mean higher high water) is 4.9 ft (1.5 m) and extreme low water is -3.5 compared to mean lower low water.
This two-hinged arch
bridge was designed by William Rich Hutton
and Edward H. Kendall
, based on a design submitted by C. C. Schneider that was pared down to bring the bridge's cost to $3 million. The bridge features steel-arch construction with two 510-foot-long main spans and masonry approaches. The Washington Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic on December 1, 1888. The plan had been to open the bridge to vehicular traffic on February 22, 1889 — Washington's Birthday
and the centennial anniversary of the first Presidency — but the full opening was delayed until December 1889.
After completion of the George Washington Bridge
in 1931, traffic off the Bridge into the Bronx traveled over the Washington Bridge. Starting in the 1940s, ramps were built to connect the western end of the bridge to the 178th Street and 179th Street Tunnels
leading to the George Washington Bridge. This allowed traffic to and from New Jersey to bypass the congested local streets of upper Manhattan.
The Alexander Hamilton Bridge
was planned in the mid-1950s to provide a direct connection between Robert Moses
's proposed Trans-Manhattan and Cross-Bronx Expressway
s and to accommodate the additional traffic resulting from the addition of the six-lane lower level to the George Washington Bridge. The completion of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge in 1963 diverted much of the traffic away from the Washington Bridge.
routes operated by MTA New York City Transit. The average weekday ridership of these routes is: Bx3: 17,840; Bx11: 14,860; Bx13: 10,700; Bx35: 15,860; Bx36: 32,710.
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
between the boroughs of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, connecting 181st Street
181st Street (Manhattan)
181st Street is a major thoroughfare running through the Washington Heights neighborhood in uptown Manhattan in New York City. It runs from the Washington Bridge in the east, to the Henry Hudson Parkway in the west, near the George Washington Bridge and the Hudson River...
and Amsterdam Avenue
Tenth Avenue (Manhattan)
Tenth Avenue, known as Amsterdam Avenue north of 59th Street, is a north-south thoroughfare on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City. It carries uptown traffic as far as West 110th Street, also known as Cathedral Parkway for the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine...
in the Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
section of Manhattan to University Avenue in the Morris Heights
Morris Heights, Bronx
Morris Heights is a low income residential neighborhood located in the west Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: West Burnside Avenue to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the...
section of the Bronx. Ramps at either end of the bridge connect to the Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
The Trans-Manhattan Expressway or George Washington Bridge Expressway is a highway in New York City that is part of the Interstate Highway System. Though few of the millions who use it or live near it have ever heard the name, it is probably one of the shortest, busiest, and most congested named...
and the Cross-Bronx Expressway
Cross-Bronx Expressway
The Cross Bronx Expressway is a major expressway in the New York City borough of the Bronx, conceived by Robert Moses and built between 1948 and 1972. It carries traffic on Interstate 95 through the city, and serves as a portion of Interstate 295 toward Long Island; a portion is also designated U.S...
. The bridge is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation
New York City Department of Transportation
The New York City Department of Transportation is responsible for the management of much of New York City's transportation infrastructure...
. It once carried U.S. Route 1, which now travels over the Alexander Hamilton Bridge
Alexander Hamilton Bridge
The Alexander Hamilton Bridge carries eight lanes of traffic over the Harlem River in New York City between the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, connecting the Trans-Manhattan Expressway in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan and the Cross-Bronx Expressway, as part of Interstate 95...
.
The total length of the bridge, including approaches, is 2375 feet (723.9 m). The parallel main spans of the steel arch bridge stretch 510 feet (155.4 m) over the Harlem River, providing 134 feet (40.8 m) of vertical clearance and 354 feet (107.9 m) of horizontal clearance. The tidal maximum (mean higher high water) is 4.9 ft (1.5 m) and extreme low water is -3.5 compared to mean lower low water.
This two-hinged arch
Truss arch bridge
A truss arch bridge combines the elements of the truss bridge and the arch bridge. The actual resolution of forces will depend upon the design. If no horizontal thrusting forces are generated this becomes an arch-shaped truss, essentially a bent beam — see moon bridge for an example...
bridge was designed by William Rich Hutton
William Rich Hutton
William Rich Hutton was a surveyor and artist who became an architect and civil engineer in Maryland and New York in the latter half of the 19th century...
and Edward H. Kendall
Edward H. Kendall
Edward Hale Kendall was an American architect with a practice in New York City.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Kendall was one of the first generation of Americans to study in Paris; he apprenticed in the office of the construction engineer Gridley James Fox Bryant, Boston...
, based on a design submitted by C. C. Schneider that was pared down to bring the bridge's cost to $3 million. The bridge features steel-arch construction with two 510-foot-long main spans and masonry approaches. The Washington Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic on December 1, 1888. The plan had been to open the bridge to vehicular traffic on February 22, 1889 — Washington's Birthday
Washington's Birthday
Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day...
and the centennial anniversary of the first Presidency — but the full opening was delayed until December 1889.
George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the Washington Heights neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City to Fort Lee, Bergen County, New Jersey. Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1/9 cross the river via the bridge. U.S...
in 1931, traffic off the Bridge into the Bronx traveled over the Washington Bridge. Starting in the 1940s, ramps were built to connect the western end of the bridge to the 178th Street and 179th Street Tunnels
178th-179th Street Tunnels
The 178th and 179th Street Tunnels are two defunct vehicular tunnels in Upper Manhattan in the state of New York. Originally conceived and constructed under the auspices of Robert Moses, the twin tunnels have been superseded by the Trans-Manhattan Expressway in Washington Heights.In the 1950s, the...
leading to the George Washington Bridge. This allowed traffic to and from New Jersey to bypass the congested local streets of upper Manhattan.
The Alexander Hamilton Bridge
Alexander Hamilton Bridge
The Alexander Hamilton Bridge carries eight lanes of traffic over the Harlem River in New York City between the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, connecting the Trans-Manhattan Expressway in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan and the Cross-Bronx Expressway, as part of Interstate 95...
was planned in the mid-1950s to provide a direct connection between Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
's proposed Trans-Manhattan and Cross-Bronx Expressway
Cross-Bronx Expressway
The Cross Bronx Expressway is a major expressway in the New York City borough of the Bronx, conceived by Robert Moses and built between 1948 and 1972. It carries traffic on Interstate 95 through the city, and serves as a portion of Interstate 295 toward Long Island; a portion is also designated U.S...
s and to accommodate the additional traffic resulting from the addition of the six-lane lower level to the George Washington Bridge. The completion of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge in 1963 diverted much of the traffic away from the Washington Bridge.
Public transportation
The Washington Bridge carries the Bx3, Bx11, Bx13, Bx35 and Bx36 busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
routes operated by MTA New York City Transit. The average weekday ridership of these routes is: Bx3: 17,840; Bx11: 14,860; Bx13: 10,700; Bx35: 15,860; Bx36: 32,710.
External links
- NYC Roads: Washington Bridge
- New York City Department of Transportation
- Washington Bridge photographs American Memory from the Library of Congress
- Nautical Chart #12342 NOAA