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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reopened the George Washington Bridge’s renovated South Walk on October 15, 2026, completing the eighth of 11 projects in its $2 billion Restoring the George program. The completed package was Skanska’s $452 million suspender-rope contract: all 592 suspender ropes were replaced and roughly 1.5 miles of pedestrian pathway were rebuilt while the bridge continued carrying traffic.
Pedestrians now have the South Walk and cyclists the North Walk, ending the period when both groups shared one path. The rebuilt approaches are up to 14 feet wide, no steeper than a 5% grade, and include a viewing platform at the New York entrance and an expanded New Jersey entry plaza.
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What did the eighth George Washington Bridge rehabilitation project complete?
The eighth project replaced every suspender rope on the bridge and reconstructed the South Walk. The Port Authority says the work covered all 592 vertical ropes and approximately 1.5 miles of walkway. Reopening on October 15, 2026, returned a dedicated pedestrian route to the bridge and separated walking from cycling operations.
The $452 million contract was awarded to Skanska. Construction Dive reported that the wider Restoring the George program began in 2013 and is expected to finish construction in 2030.
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How were the suspender ropes replaced while traffic stayed open?
Crews transferred the bridge’s load to temporary ropes before removing each original suspender, then anchored the replacement and moved to the next panel point. This sequencing allowed normal vehicle traffic to continue on the bridge.
Temporary load transfer
Each original rope was replaced individually. Skanska senior vice president David Murawski said the team developed hoisting systems that could be used safely “with no disruption to normal bridge traffic.” The ropes varied from 38 feet to 674 feet long, so the lifting and anchoring systems had to accommodate substantially different lengths.
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The contract also addressed the bridge’s main cables. Workers recoated and rewrapped the 26,474 compacted steel wires in each main cable, added an elastomeric wrap, and installed a dehumidification system. The moisture-control equipment is intended to limit corrosion and extend cable service life.
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Why was the South Walk closed?
The South Walk closed in February 2023 because the suspender-rope anchor points are below the sidewalk. The walkway had to be removed before crews could reach those connections and replace the ropes safely.
During the closure, pedestrians and cyclists shared the North Walk. With the South Walk reopened, the two modes use separate paths again.
What changed for pedestrians and cyclists?
Pedestrians use the South Walk and cyclists use the North Walk. The reconstructed approaches are as wide as 14 feet and have maximum slopes of 5%, improving the transition between the walkway and its entrances.
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- A new viewing platform was added at the New York entrance.
- The New Jersey side received an expanded entry plaza.
- The South Walk now functions as a dedicated pedestrian route rather than a shared path.
Skanska was expected to remain on site for several months after reopening to remove temporary conduit and finish additional electrical work. The reopening therefore marks the operational return of the walkway, not the end of every activity associated with the contract.
How much does Restoring the George cost, and how much is finished?
The Port Authority describes Restoring the George as an $2 billion, 11-project rehabilitation program. The latest status identifies eight projects as complete, two as ongoing and one as planned.
| Program item | Status or value | Attribution |
|---|---|---|
| Total program | $2 billion | Port Authority, 2026 |
| Number of projects | 11 | Port Authority, 2026 |
| Completed | Eight projects | Port Authority, 2026 |
| Ongoing | Two projects | Port Authority, 2026 |
| Still planned | One project | Port Authority, 2026 |
| Suspender-rope contract | $452 million | Construction Dive, 2026 |
| Expected construction wrap-up | 2030 | Construction Dive, 2025, citing the Port Authority |
What projects remain after the eighth completion?
The two active packages include rehabilitation of the Center Avenue and Lemoine Avenue bridges, lower-level steel rehabilitation and replacement of movable maintenance platforms.
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The final planned package covers components of six bridges over the Trans-Manhattan Expressway:
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The program’s 2030 construction target reported by Construction Dive is therefore later than the South Walk reopening. Drivers should expect additional work zones and maintenance operations as the remaining bridge and lower-level packages proceed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which earlier projects are already complete?
Before the suspender-rope and South Walk package, the program completed roadway finger-joint replacement, 32 deck panels at the bridge’s two towers, upper-level eastbound pavement rehabilitation, and work on the 178th and 179th Street ramps. These projects addressed deck, pavement, ramp and movement-joint components in addition to the cable-support work now complete.
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Why is replacing all 592 ropes significant?
The suspender ropes connect the main cables to the bridge deck and transfer deck loads upward into the cable system. Replacing the complete set required repeated load transfers, access below the sidewalk and precise anchoring while the bridge remained in service.
Port Authority chairman Kevin O’Toole called replacing all 592 suspenders “a remarkable feat of engineering.” The scope also paired rope replacement with main-cable recoating, elastomeric wrapping and dehumidification, linking the visible walkway renewal to long-term structural preservation.
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What is a suspender rope on a suspension bridge?
A suspender rope is a vertical hanger between a bridge’s main cable and its deck. It carries deck loads to the main cable, which transfers them to the towers and anchorages.
Why add dehumidification to the main cables?
Dehumidification keeps moisture levels inside the cable system low. Reducing humidity slows corrosion of the compacted steel wires after they have been recoated and wrapped.
What are movable maintenance platforms used for?
These platforms provide work access to areas that crews must inspect, repair or maintain beneath and alongside the bridge structure. Their replacement is part of the lower-level rehabilitation still under way.
Does the South Walk reopening mean all George Washington Bridge construction is finished?
No. The walkway contract still had conduit removal and extra electrical work scheduled after reopening, and other Restoring the George packages remain active or planned. The Port Authority’s program target for construction completion is 2030.
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