The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announces the largest renovation project in the George Washington Bridge’s history. The main focus of the improvements will be upgrades to bus ramps and a rehabilitation of the bridge’s lower level. The project, set to begin next year, will cost between $460 and $480 million as part of the more than $1 billion that the project will eventually cost, Authority officials say. They also say that when necessary the replacement of the steel suspender ropes will cost as much as $1.2 billion. Replacing the suspension wire in stages will take eight years. Port Authority officials say they will pay for the repairs with revenue from tolls and fares. Get the details from the New York Times story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/nyregion/george-washington-bridge-cables-to-be-replaced.html
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Agency officials say that the George Washington Bridge is in no danger of collapsing because of the suspender deterioration. But they added that after spending $4.5 million over two years studying what repairs were necessary, it’s clear that the prudent thing to do is to replace the ropes now. Waiting until there is a safety issue would require emergency repairs that would no doubt create what no driver on the George Washington Bridge wants: more traffic jams.